A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Festive Lantern Procession, Church Street, Blackburn, 7pm. Pendleton Parish Council meeting, Pendleton Village Hall, 8pm. Renaissance Singers Concert, St Peter's Church
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Women's Aglow Christmas Celebration and Jacob's Join, Supper Room of Accrington Town Hall, 7.30pm. All women welcome. Christingle Christmas Carol meet Peace Garden, Rosegrove
OVER the last six weeks I have been watching flocks of starlings building up. Ten years ago starlings were so numerous that the winter flocks numbered hundreds of thousands. This is the time of year when our native starlings are joined by millions of
TONY Blair states that extra money to the firemen would be more than the economy can stand. How much did the last increase MPs gave themselves and presumably their hangers-on, spin doctors, wives acting as secretaries, etc. cost this country? We weren't
IT has been stated by the Environment Minister Michael Meacher that householders will face a tax on their rubbish, possibly amounting to £1 a sack. Mr Meacher also said that although householders were already paying for this service through the council
THAT the Lancashire Constabulary should seek to excuse officers being rude to victims of crime should come as no surprise to most people, nor should your editorial support of their stance be (LET, November 29). 'Too busy,' 'pressure,' 'insufficient resources
A NEW recruit has joined the team policing Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale and can't wait to get her teeth into her new role. With four legs, a wet nose and a mean bark she's not your average police recruit but eventually, after training, she will share
THE recent South Wales school bus crash fatality should be a wake-up call to our transport undertakings, school authorities, police and the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety. The condition of school buses, the way they are loaded -- children standing
Sedgley Park...29pts Kendal...0 - ON a wet, windy day, really atrocious conditions at Park Lane saw Sedgley produce some sparkling rugby to easily beat league strugglers Kendal. Four tries without reply tells its own story and the points difference could
THE Labour Party can hardly complain about the lies of the BNP when it has itself brought lies and deceit into mainstream politics. It has told the most outrageous lies -- fully exposed by John Pilger -- to stir up war against Iraq. It announces details
A TEENAGE girl was pushed to the ground and kicked in the stomach as she walked along a dirt track. The 14-year-old was walking along a track near to a gym off Woods Road in Aspull at 7pm on Monday night when the assault happened. The man is described
LOCAL history writer Peter Riley has captured 100 years of history. In an ingenious new book Then and Now. Peter has taken a photographic look at the changing faces of 11 towns incuding Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Golborne, Astley, Glazebury, Lowton and
IN the current financial climate, Football League clubs have been scrapping around for crumbs of comfort like sparrows looking for tit-bits in a frozen winter garden. So it is rare that the Clarets have been able to celebrate a good week with not one,
A TEENAGER has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a football fan who died after a town centre clash between supporters. Andrew McNee, 18, of Osborne Way, Haslingden, is accused of killing Nottingham Forest fan Nathan Shaw before the Division
MARK Ward has walked out on Leigh RMI after less than six months as the club's assistant manager writes Martyn Hindley The former Manchester City and Everton midfielder became Waywell's third number two of the calendar year back in July after Andy Farrell
TWO high quality goals gave Blackburn the cushion to survive Andy Todd's second-half dismissal as Alan Murray's side collected their third win of the season at a freezing cold Morecambe last night. Todd, booked for a trip before the break, was sent off
GRAEME Souness has always got a buzz from the thrill of wheeling and dealing in the transfer market. At Rangers, for instance, he completely revolutionised Scottish football by enticing some of the top players in England north of the border. And he's
SINGER Sean Ruane will make a triumphant return to his old school when he makes a guest appearance at a concert. The tenor, who grew up in Bacup, is considered one of opera's rising young stars of the moment. Sean was educated at St Theodore's RC High
NINE Burnley football fans have appeared in court in connection with trouble which broke out after the Claret's away tie at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Charges were brought against the group following an outbreak of violent disorder around 2.30pm on Saturday
A TEENAGER has been charged with the murder of a football fan who died after a town centre clash between supporters. Andrew McNee, 18, of Osborne Way, Haslingden, is accused of killing Nottingham Forest fan Nathan Shaw before the Division One game in
A TEENAGER has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a football fan who died after a town centre clash between supporters. Andrew McNee, 18, of Osborne Way, Haslingden, is accused of killing Nottingham Forest fan Nathan Shaw before the Division
FRIDAY Morning Ladies Group will be having a talk by Mavis Baldwin on anecdotes of Christmas this week in the Reading Room. Coffee and mince pies will be served. They will hold their last meeting for 2002 on December 20, when they are all going to the
THE allocation of school places in Burnley is to go under a government spotlight after families in the town set up their own DIY School. A delegation from Lancashire County Council will travel to London to meet education secretary Charles Clarke after
Bury 2, Tranmere Rovers 0 by Chris Hall: JOHN Newby brought his goal drought to a welcome halt to eliminate Second Division Tranmere and book Shakers a place in the Northern Area semi-finals of the LDV Vans Trophy. The popular striker has struggled to
A SPECIAL presentation ceremony will be held in Nelson this week to reward youngsters, both Asian and white, who have come together to produce two videos. Last year's racial disturbances in Burnley did not spread to Pendle, but the incidents provided
A TASTE of France is coming to Bury. From December 13-15 the town's Longfield Suite, Prestwich, will be staging a French market.
A WINTER spectacular took place in Sabden with a Christmas production of The Snow Queen by St Mary's and Friends Theatre Group at St Nicholas' Church. Schoolgirl Clare Bollan, played the Snow Queen.
'STARS in Their Eyes -- Kids' hopeful Jessica Stretton will join the performers at one of the area's biggest community carol concerts tonight (Wednesday). Golborne Brass Band lead the singing at the annual Lowton, Golborne and Ashton Mencap Society event
TRAFFIC wardens and DVLA enforcement officers have been out in force in Accrington again in a blitz on road tax dodgers. Operation Clampdown first took to the streets in October to catch tax evaders and more than 300 drivers were stopped or had their
RESIDENTS in an East Lancashire borough are being urged to keep safe and secure during the festive season. Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership has launched its Keep Safe and Secure campaign in a bid to reduce crimes committed over the festive season
A COUNCILLOR is asking for a new bus service after teenagers in her ward were allocated high school places in another town. Several youngsters who live on the east side of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal were this year allocated places at Accrington's Moorhead
A HOUSING developer is on collision course with Hyndburn Council after mud from its new estate affected nearby roads. Persimmon Homes was granted permission to build 89 houses on the Sefton Farm estate on Burnley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, in 1999. One of
WORSHIPPERS have finally been handed the keys to a £280,000 building -- and moved out of a nearby undertakers! The 30-strong congregation at Chatburn Methodist Church are ready to move from their makeshift place of worship to the Downham Road building
THE owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier which was run over last week is being urged to contact the kennels. The owner has contacted Glencoe kennels in a panic twice -- but both times forgot to leave her name and contact details. The brindle bitch is
A MAN aged 28 and two 33-year-old women were arrested when police executed a number of warrants in the Trinity area of Burnley. The raids yesterday morning were part of a special drugs operation codenamed Flechette. A quantity of what police believe to
DESPITE a spell of almost total inactivity, Burnley's youth team produced their best display of the season when they played Stockport County at the weekend. The young Clarets survived the loss of a two goal lead to clinch a 3-2 win against Stockport County
PAUL Weller today admitted that captaining the Clarets was one of the proudest moments of his career. "I have been at the club for ten years now and it was a special experience that meant a lot to me," he said. "It was a really big honour, a proud day
EAST LANCASHIRE youngster James Anderson was today added to England's injury-hit one-day squad after fast bowler Andrew Caddick emerged as a doubt for Friday's opening match of the triangular series. Lancashire seamer Anderson was called up from the Academy
WORK has started on a local safety scheme in the Victoria Lane area of Whitefield. The eight-week project has been designed by Bury Council, with the help of local residents, to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, reduce the speed of vehicles
A CHURCH group of actors is seeking back stage crew to help with their production of the panto Cinderella. The Churches in Boothstown Amateur Dramatics Society (CINBADS) will perform the show between January 23 and 26 in the Holy Family Scout Hall. While
LEIGH Salvation Army are holding a 'Christmas with the puppets' coffee morning from 10.30am on Saturday, December 14. Everyone is welcome.
LEIGH Rotary Club is appealing for extra wheels to help with this year's Christmas float collection. Safety and insurance requirements ban collectors from travelling in float-towing vehicles so charity fund-raisers need a minibus. Venues are: December
WHAT an exciting lot our local MPs really are! Between them they can declare nothing more exciting than a couple of tickets to a football match and a night at the Brit Awards as perks of their job. Whatever happened to the gravy train? There are no 'fact
TOUGH on crime, tough on the causes of crime. Ring a bell with anyone? Mr Blair and his caring, sharing Government swept to power with a pledge to crack down on criminals who make so many lives a misery. Now it would seem that there will be a price to
THE Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood have held another meeting on the beauty spot's repair schedule. A sub-committee discussed the best way forward for the council to start work on the drains and paths of the woods, damaged by storms in June. Dennis Gillibrand
RESIDENTS in Darwen are furious that signs for a new service station in the town tell motorists they are in Blackburn. Campaigners against the Blackburn Services signs on the M65 want them removed. Commuter Paul Clarke, 34, of Chancel Place, Darwen, described
A LOCAL government reform group has called on Rossendale Council to consider implementing "Community Inquiries" in a bid to give the public a chance to put their ideas and views to members. Rossendale Chartists have written to council leader Graham Pearson
HOUSE prices may be astronomical but one Rossendale businessman has come up with a novel solution that's out of this world - selling land on the moon. Clive Balchin, of Moving Works, Bank Street, Rawtenstall, is boldly going where no other estate agent
ROSSENDALE Council has announced a 10 per cent pay rise for senior officers in a revitalised attempt to recruit quality staff. The new chief executive, who has not yet been appointed following the departure of Stephen Hartley, is set to get around an
CHRIS Wilkins of Radcliffe Boro U16s once again showed the meaning of the word striker, scoring four goals in their win against Boundary Park in the Bury & Radcliffe JFL. Chris has scored hat-tricks in the previous two matches, maintaining his record
SMALL community groups looking to improve their area with special projects can benefit from council grants. Funds of £100,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest will enable local groups to apply for up to £5,000 to be spent on projects which
A BOOST of £30million for transport has been handed to Lancashire, the Government announced yesterday. Lancashire County Council will receive £25.4million while Blackburn with Darwen Council will get around £5.4million. The money will help fund the two
PARENTS are being taught the lessons of truancy through a new poster campaign. But as the drive to keep children in their classrooms was brought to Blackburn, there was a warning that the initiative only addressed half the issues involved. A leading child
THE SECONDS were up for this performance and it showed. Danny Marshall took several balls against the feed, Matt Calvert was all over the park and Harvey Spence revelled in the role of number eight. Simon Finnan made a welcome return from holiday and
INDISCIPLINE and poor game management accounted for Blackburn's defeat in losing bruising encounter which went right to the wire. The score line was never more than one try apart. Tarleton's first score stung Blackburn into action. They created a couple
ROSSENDALE cruised into the quarter-finals of the Unibond League Challenge Cup with a comprehensive victory over Premier Division Lancaster City. Dale adapted to the freezing conditions and strong wind far better than their opponents, who can have no
A POWERFUL, second half display of controlled rugby by Blackburn's pack of forwards was key to this victory which moved Blackburn to the top of the North West 3rd XV League. With a strong wind behind them Blackburn started well and scored after 15 minutes
BLACKBURN kept cool heads under pressure to continue their surge of good form against resiliant Broughton. Blackburn have now collected seven of the last eight points available and are assembling a squad of players who work hard for each other. The recent
TWO late goals saw North End sink to a disatrous home defeat after being 3-1 in front. Pawel Abbott and David Healy replaced Fuller and Cresswell in PNE's forward line and the lively Abbott posed problems for the opposition and his efforts paid off after
A WEIGHT limit is being imposed on Leyland Railway Station bridge, Station Brow, as Railtrack carries out work. Centurion Way and Wheelton Lane should be used as a diversion for vehicles exceeding 17 tonnes. This restriction will not affect local bus
A YEAR-LONG fight to save a village school from closing reaches the High Court in London today (Wednesday). A judge will rule on the proposed closure of Affetside Primary School after campaigners won the right for a judicial review. Also, campaigners
TWO young girls suffered head injuries in an accident as they crossed a Bury road together. Aneela Khan, aged eight, sustained serious injuries to her face and legs while five-year-old Ramesha Ali suffered a cut to her head. Police said the girls were
OTHER European countries like Germany and a number of councils elsewhere in Britain have successfully shown people how to split up their household waste to minimise cost and maximise recycling. Recycling is vital especially in a small, crowded country
THE other day I sat on a wall of Clitheroe Castle and looked down over the River Valley. It was raining hard but it was still not easy to imagine that 340 million years ago our area was covered in a warm and shallow sea. Animals called Crinoids have become
WINTER is an ideal time to wander around our woodlands and river banks and to find out more about trees and fish. Most of our native trees, especially oak and ash live a lot longer than we do and anyone who manages our woodlands needs to know just how
JOHN Lancaster, who is retiring as chairman of Ribble Valley company Ultraframe, is one whose life story reads like a fairytale. Twenty years ago he was broke and wondering if it was worth waking up in the morning. Today he is a multi-millionaire whose
THE owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier which was run over last week is being urged to contact the kennels. The owner has contacted Glencoe kennels in a panic twice -- but both times forgot to leave her name and contact details. The brindle bitch is
I WAS interested to read (LET, November 25) how United Utilities' business development manager Ian Smith, hopes to 'minimise the impact' of the proposed wind farm at Clowbridge, which is an area I represent as its Lancashire County Councillor. While Ian
COMMUNITY leaders in the Ribble Valley have reacted with dismay after the British National Party said it would field candidates in next May's elections. The far-right party, which recently won the Mill Hill by-election in Blackburn and has three councillors
ROVERS midfielder David Dunn could have a chance of being fit to face Everton after scans have revealed he has not damaged his hamstring. The England international was forced to limp off just 10 minutes into Saturday's game at the Reebok. But subsequent
EWOOD new boy Hakan Sukur today vowed to put aside his fitness problems and prove the critics wrong by making a success of his move to Blackburn Rovers. The 31-year-old striker is currently pulling out all the stops in a bid to be fit to make his Rovers
A TEENAGER has been charged with the murder of a football fan who died after a town centre clash between supporters. Andrew McNee, 18, of Osborne Way, Haslingden, is accused of killing Nottingham Forest fan Nathan Shaw before the Division One game in
A RAIDER currently serving a two year sentence has been given another jail term for breaking into a gas showroom. Shaun Patrick O'Brien, 41, was brought to book after leaving footprints at Premier Gas, Burnley, and was also found in possession of two
MEMBERS of Burnley Football Club supporters' associations today spoke of their dismay as they faced a ban from away games in Nottingham following the death of 17-year-old Forest fan Nathan Shaw. Alan Beecroft, treasurer of Colne Clarets, said the reputation
A COUNCIL leader today pledged improvements after an inspection concluded that it must try harder in several key areas. Stuart Caddy made the comments following a fundamental review of Burnley Borough Council services carried out by the Improvement and
THE man who brought Shakers' financial plight to the attention of the nation was honoured at Gigg Lane. Top sports writer David Conn of 'The Independent' was the first member of the national press to highlight the cash crisis at Gigg Lane last season
A CIGARETTE is thought to have been the start of a blaze at a home in Nelson last night. The settle of the house in Pine Street had caught fire after a cigarette was left on the furniture in the living room at around 8.15pm. The fire, attended by two
CRIMINALS in Pendle will be coming face to face with the police during a pre-Christmas crime blitz. Operation Freeze was unveiled during a special meeting between police, traders and others at Nelson Town Hall yesterday. It involves extra high visibility
PENDLE firm Barnfield Construction is hoping to reassure residents concerned about their plans to develop a retail park on a site off Vivary Way that they have taken their words on board. The company will find out tomorrow night whether they will be given
SHE came, she swore, she conquered! Debbie Harry and Blondie took Manchester by storn and suddenly it was 1979 all over again. For all the weedy wannabes who think they are pop princesses, forget it. Debbie did it first and she still does it better than
THE sky over East Lancashire was filled with multi-coloured balloons after dozens were released by children at Brookhouse School, Blackburn. They were launched to raise awareness of the school's book week that offered gift vouchers as prizes for the furthest
FATHER Christmas is hitting the streets aboard Tyldesley Rotary Club's sleigh. Proposed routes are: December 11: Bodmin Road, Moss Fold, Lee Fold, Truro Road, Porthleven Crescent, Briary Drive, Bude Avenue, Yarn Croft, Berryfold Way, Thirlmere Avenue
A FORMER maternity hospital in the Ribble Valley converted into a luxury mansion has become the most expensive property in East Lancashire after changing hands for £2.5million. Bramley Meade in Whalley attracted the interest of prospective purchasers
COLNE cricket club have signed Australian Shane Harwood as their professional for next season. The right-arm quick bowler comes on the recommendation of former Colne pro Ben Johnson, who says the 28-year-old will 'make the league jump'. He is something
SHAKERLEY estate residents have been dealt another blow as their community primary school looks a step nearer to closing. Last Thursday Council cabinet members accepted survey findings that Shakerley CE School was not viable. In summer the Tyldesley school
Bolton Boys Fed: PROLIFIC goalscorer Lee Bruce netted another hat-trick for league leaders Radcliffe Boro in their battling win over Breightmet United. The win in the the U15s section sees them open up a gap at the top. Tasker scored with Danny Morley
EWOOD new boy Hakan Sukur today vowed to put aside his fitness problems and prove the critics wrong by making a success of his move to Blackburn Rovers. The 31-year-old striker is currently pulling out all the stops in a bid to be fit to make his Rovers
PAUL Weller today admitted that captaining the Clarets was one of the proudest moments of his career. "I have been at the club for ten years now and it was a special experience that meant a lot to me," he said. "It was a really big honour, a proud day
THE Friends of Ashton Park, Darwen, are still looking for people who have an interest in the park to join their volunteer group. Frank Hull, the Friends' founder, said the turnout had been poor since the last appeal two months ago. He said: "We haven't
YOUNG Darwen people are raising a toast to Thwaites after the Blackburn brewery donated a portable cardiac monitor for screening heart defects. The brewery donated the equipment, which was accepted by the local branch of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young
DARWEN'S "freedom fighter" claims his meeting with council members to discuss the town's future was "all talk and no action". Roy Davies, 55, of Olive Lane, met Blackburn with Darwen bosses to encourage urgent investment in Darwen. A 500-name petition
A BLACKBURN nurse who was struck off for sleeping on duty and painting her nails during an operation has failed to win her job back. Maureen Whittle, 54, had her application for re-instatement to the nursing register refused at a hearing of the Nursing
A 51 year old woman died as a result of breast cancer which had spread to her brain. An inquest heard that Rehmat Bi had undergone a mastectomy and chemotherapy which seemed to have been successful. But a post-mortem examination revealed the breast cancer
THE gap between education and employment was highlighted as the reason behind Britain's skills shortage during a speech in Blackburn. Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Adult Learning and Skills, told the Northwest Festival of Skills and Learning conference
RESIDENTS are to be forced into recycling after a council announced it would only collect traditional household rubbish once a fortnight. Householders face splitting their rubbish into three different containers, with councillors issuing the warning:
BURY police will be in good voice at their annual carol service. The festive service at Bury Parish Church will take place on Thursday, December 19 . Police officers will join the church choir and be accompanied by the Greater Manchester Police Brass
ACCRINGTON Stanley's UniBond President's Cup tie at Ashton United last night was postponed due to a power cut before the game in the area around the Hurst Cross ground. The match will be rearranged for an as yet undecided date. Also postponed was the
'ABSOLUTELY diabolical' was the general opinion of the Burnley performance, by just about everyone who watched this apology for a rugby game. They were a converted try down within five minutes and the lack of unity in the home pack meant the scrums were
BURNLEY only started playing 20 minutes after kick off - a by-product of the team not training together - by which time the score was 20-3. But Burnley hit back, Dinsdale scoring under the sticks, converted by Gus Ferguson. Another penalty followed shortly
PRESTON striker Ricardo Fuller will have to wait until next year before having corrective surgery on his injured knee. The Jamaica international was ruled out for the season last week after damaging his cruciate in the win at Coventry. An exploratory
