ALLAN Smethurst is a retired forklift truck and has spent four years restoring a rare World War Two tractor which will take pride of place at this year's Darwen Gala. Allan, of Bull Hill Cottages in Darwen worked on the tractor with his neighhbour Brian
LEE Richardson (Letters, July 24) suggests that Darweners put their hands in their pockets to pay for the town and shops to look nice. Well, Mr Richardson, we'd be happy to do that if it wasn't for the council having their hands in there first. BRENDA
REGARDING the proposals for an out-of-town bus station development in Accrington (LET, July 30), most of the local shops suffered during the rebuilding of the existing one and many traders are struggling, with substantial losses. Disruption has been widespread
BLACKBURN with Darwen Amnesty International Local Group would like to thank all who attended The Mela and Arts in the Park in Blackburn and signed our cards and made generous donations. Almost 800 cards were signed during the two weekends, which we think
REGARDING Helen Mead's article (LET, July 28) in which she asked: "What on earth has happened to geography?" As a former resident of Harrogate I was often asked by mothers with small children armed with buckets and spades: "Where is the sea?" -- only
A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Leigh has admitted causing the death of his friend in a car accident in Bolton. Richard Bourke of Staves Avenue, Pennington, was driving a Renault Clio along Bradshaw Road towards Tottington at speed when the accident happened.
A BUNGLING criminal was crushed by a car when he severed a suspension cable instead of a fuel pipe while trying to siphon petrol. But Joseph Phillips, who has 141 previous convictions, denied being East Lancashire's most hapless criminal and said: "I
PAUL Terzis takes the Leigh Centurions to Featherstone baying for revenge after the Challenge Cup defeat against the same opposition. Leigh have beaten Andy Kelly's side twice since at the Coliseum, but Terzis says Sunday's clash could banish the memory
A DRINK driver who crashed into an oncoming car had been on the wrong side of the road, a court was told. Burnley Magistrates heard Catherine Wearing, 50, admitted to police she had taken alcohol immediately. Wearing, of Acrefield, Padiham, admitted driving
A GROUP set up to reduce juvenile anti-social behaviour is celebrating after receiving a grant of more than £4,500 from the National Lottery. Brunshaw Action Group has been able to buy photographic equipment, including ten digital cameras, two night scope
A 32-YEAR-OLD woman who helped herself to her sick great uncle's life savings, is awaiting sentence. Burnley Crown Court heard how Claire Palmer was supposed to be looking after pensioner Herbert Hubbard's finances. Instead, she pinched more than £1,500
A ROOFER who launched a street gang attack which left a man dripping with blood has kept his freedom - but left court with a judge's warning ringing in his ears. Keith Ludlum, 28, was told by the judge behaviour like his normally warranted jail, and that's
FRIENDS of a popular builder killed in a car accident early yesterday have paid tribute to a "cracking lad". Scott Grimshaw, 28, of Scott Street, Burnley, was killed in a head-on collision when his Vauxhall Astra collided with a Honda Civic driven by
ANNE-Marie Smith has been hailed a neighbourhood star for her work stamping out anti-social behaviour in her community. Juggling her voluntary work with her role as a mother to six children and foster mum to two others, she also set up PACT - Parents
CAMPAIGNERS aiming to bring Great Harwood into the 21st century toasted their success after reaching the required benchmark for faster Internet connection. British Telecom insisted on having 250 names registered before it would install Broadband in the
A FEAST of local and international music and entertainment is on the bill in Accrington this weekend -- and it's all free. Thousands of people are expected to descend on the town as two music festivals take place in Oakhill Park, Accrington. First up
JEAN South wants to fire off a letter that won't go away. For the Great Harwood shopkeeper has had the same letter, a phone bill addressed to a woman in Scotland, posted to her SEVEN times in the just TEN days. So far fed-up Jean has put the boomerang
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive;
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The
MONDAY, AUGUST 4 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
AN East Lancashire football club has vowed to stand by shamed dad Graeme Kershaw. Kershaw, was jailed for four months last Thursday after running off and leaving his baby in a car he had crashed while drunk. The 24 year-old, a cricketer, from Cross Street
A FARMING family has been awarded a £60,000 government grant to help set up a new horse riding centre Food and Farming minister Lord Whitty met the Townsons, of Brookhouse Farm, Whalley, at the Royal Lancashire Show to mark the award of a Department of
LIKE most ten- year olds Chloe Bury enjoys swimming, horse riding and playing netball - but unlike most she set her heart on mastering the art of sign language. Inspired by her mother's job working with deaf people, the Darwen schoolgirl joined adults
A DESPERATE final plea to save Darwen's oldest Conservative club has been made by members after council bailiffs were called into the club. Dwindling membership and escalating business tax bills have led to the downfall of Bolton Road Conservative Club
PET-OWNERS, whose animals have gone missing are to get help, thanks to Rossendale Council and the Yorkshire Building Society. The building society has bought the council a £400 scanner, which detects a microchip implanted under the animals skin. It will
LONELY hearts looking for love should get down to a new singles night aimed at helping people to meet their ideal match. The brains behind the new venture, Brian Tomlinson and his partner Mary O'Sarrell, hope to create new friendships and relationships
A RED Astra van found abandoned by police could be connected to a car-jacking incident in Rawtenstall earlier this week. The terrifying ordeal took place in the car park of Asda, Rawtenstall, on Monday, July 28, at about 7pm. The van, registration H195
THE sports goods empire founded by former Blackburn Rovers star David Whelan has been fined £8.4million for fixing the price of replica football kits. JJB Sports, which has outlets throughout East Lancashire, received the biggest fine of ten companies
FISH friers Elaine and Tony Jordan have given up any hope of battering the competition in a national award scheme, so they have givengave away a tasty prize of their own. The couple, owners of the Old Mill Hill Chippy, have entered the Chip Shop of the
DRIVERS in East Lancashire will not be able to use the legal loophole used by Blackburn Rovers star Dwight Yorke to overturn a speeding conviction, a road safety group warned today. The Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety warned drivers that they could
EAST Lancashire could become a genetically modified-free zone, under plans being drawn up by county council bosses. They want to declare the red rose county 'GM free' -- becoming only the third authority to do so in the country and the first in the North
A MINI 'Sydney Harbour bridge' is being heralded as the answer to Blackburn traffic troubles - at a cost of £7million. Council bosses are now bidding for money from the government to fund the new bridge, which will act as the final piece in Blackburn's
A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Leigh has admitted causing the death of his friend from Bury in a car accident in Bolton. Richard Bourke of Staves Avenue, Pennington, was driving a Renault Clio along Bradshaw Road towards Tottington at speed when the accident
NORWICH have called off the hunt for Burnley striker Gareth Taylor - for now! Burnley have been bracing themselves for an improved offer from the Canaries after throwing out the recent £300,000 bid. But City boss Nigel Worthington is happy to play the
EWOOD outcast John Curtis could be facing Rovers next season. The Rovers defender, who is not in the squad to face Wigan at the JJB Stadium today (3pm kick-off), is currently interesting a mystery Premiership club. And Curtis, 24, whose career has been
DARWEN Gala preparations are under way at the Earcroft Community Base, with residents being called upon to create a float. Preparation sessions will take place from Monday, August 11, to Friday, August 15, from 1pm to 3.30pm. Michelle Rutherford, base
STORE bosses are reviewing security after hundreds of CDs, DVDs and PlayStation games were stolen. Sainsbury's, Hardman Way, Darwen, was targeted, when four balaclava-clad raiders broke in through the car park entrance. DC Dave Braithwaite of Darwen CID
VANDALS set fire to a staircase in a derelict Hindley Green pub early today. Intruders entered the disused Railway Hotel in Leigh Road at around 3.45 am and set fire to rubbish inside the building. The fire damaged the stairs and staircase. Firefighters
RADCLIFFE AC had three runners in this year's tour of Tameside and they all succeeded in finishing this tough event which is designed to total 52 miles in six races over seven days. Stage 1: Stockport to Hyde 11, July 20: 80 Tony Holt 80.31; 135 Steve
BLACKBURN-born lawyer Adrian Barham has become the youngest chairman of the Young Solicitors Group aged 28. He is the youngest professional to assume the important role in the Law Society's 45-year history. The former Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
FUNDING of £2.2million will help Blackburn with Darwen Council teach children road safety. The Government cash will help children in deprived areas by paying for more volunteers to teach the basic skills. Announcing the cash boost, road safety minister
CHURCH of England housing and support workers are asking East Lancashire communities to open their homes to help vulnerable young homeless people at risk in the community. Cath Norris, co-ordinator of the Young Person's Accommodation and Support Services
A 21-YEAR-OLD Blackburn man known as 'Barbarian,' who racially abused the manager of a hostel for young women, has been jailed for 35 days by Blackburn magistrates. The court heard that Imran Ali repeatedly attended the former YWCA on East Park Road and
RAPIST who was caught with his flies undone following a sex attack was yesterday jailed for seven years. A jury at Preston Crown Court heard that ex-soldier Andrew Fardella, 33, picked up a young prostitute in his Mercedes and held a cheese knife to her
KEN Wright leaves his seat in the Victory Park stand and strides down the stairs, gripping the rusty yellow railings with all the purpose of a man on a mission. All the time his eyes are fixed like the point of a compass on the action and for a moment
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. SUNDAY French Market, Church Street, Blackburn Town Centre, 9am-5pm. Hyndburn Mela, Oak Hill Park, Accrington. Barnoldswick Brass Band, Clitheroe Castle Bandstand, 2.30pm
Animal Aid spot IF you've ever fancied taking a ferret for a walk, this could be your chance. Lilly the tame albino ferret is looking for a new home and, with a specially adapted harness available from most pet stores, you can indulge her favourite activity
I wonder just how does God cope with us down here I am suffering from multiple repetitive strain Injury, mainly in both index fingers and lower back. I am victim of 2ft-something creature who insists that I repeatedly do things that somebody twice her
IT was a war that raged for 12 years but is now almost forgotten, except by those who fought in it. The Malayan War has been all but erased from British history, but for soldiers like Keith Swift it was a formative experience. "Today people don't know
WHAT appeared to be a blatant attempt at character assassination of a BNP councillor (LET, July 29) following his being barred from Turf Moor was, predictably, supported by councillors from opposing parties. It is difficult, however, to give credence
REGARDING your article on education (LET, July 28), I can draw a parallel from what happened at the school where I started teaching. Each form teacher registered the students' attendance, collected meal money and tried to be a general guide and mentor
A MINI 'Sydney Harbour bridge' is being heralded as the answer to Blackburn traffic troubles - at a cost of £7million. Council bosses are now bidding for money from the government to fund the new bridge, which will act as the final piece in Blackburn's
EWOOD outcast John Curtis could be facing Rovers next season. The Rovers defender, who is not in the squad to face Wigan at the JJB Stadium today (3pm kick-off), is currently interesting a mystery Premiership club. And Curtis, 24, whose career has been
A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl fed up with rubbish dropped in her street has organised a litter pick and encouraged her neighbours to join in. More than 40 residents in the Piccadilly area of Burnley, around Jessie's Park, gave up three hours to help Rebecca Alston
VILLAGERS are celebrating again after councillors refused proposals for a moorland wind farm for a second time. They breathed a sigh of relief in March when the plans for 12 wind turbines, a temporary mast and associated equipment, were refused permission
BURNLEY Council has been accused of giving landlords an easy ride after it was revealed nearly £45,000 is to be spent on demolishing a dilapidated house. Properties in Accrington Road, Daneshouse, and Burnley Wood, are being demolished as part of the
BARNOLDSWICK is going to be buzzing for the next two months in the lead-up to the town's first festival. More than eight weeks of events are lined up by Barnoldswick's Community Arts Group and a host of local organisations -- all of which will be based
THE Phoenix Club's king of the fibbers, Kenny Senior, will be among the stars appearing at a day of music and laughter in Radcliffe town centre on Saturday. The first Radcliffe Festival is being staged at the bandstand in the town centre and funnyman
AUGUST Bank Holiday will see the 14th annual staging of the world renowned Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, in Colne. Opening night on the August 22 will feature UK acts the NuBlues and Scott McKeon, who will be joined by The Convulsions from
A BUNGLING criminal was crushed by a car when he severed a suspension cable instead of a fuel pipe while trying to siphon petrol. But Joseph Phillips, who has 141 previous convictions, denied being East Lancashire's most hapless criminal and said: "I
A FORMER care home where residents were given two hours to leave is to go under the hammer. Great Harwood Lodge will be auctioned in September after receivers were given a possession order, which became valid yesterday.. The home closed in May, with the
FAST-TALKING call-handler Sarah Lang has been nominated for five awards in a scheme aimed at recognising the area's best young apprentices. Sarah, of Appletree Way, Oswaldtwistle, has been undertaking a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in call-handling
THE father of tragic baby Toby Woods today hit out at police after they said no charges will be brought against his partner and said: "I always said she'd done nothing wrong." But Robert Woods said he feared that investigations against his long-term partner
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 BLACKBURN: 10am-1pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road; 10.30am-4.30pm: Superdrug Pharmacy, 5 Stonybutts. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 11 Church Street. ACCRINGTON: noon-1pm: Aston Pharmacy, 351 Blackburn Road; noon-1pm: Rishton
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver
YOUNG Iuno Connolly was not at all nervous when she sang in front of a television camera for the first time in her life. The 16-year-old Stonyhurst College pupil, who hails from Wiltshire, performed an unaccompanied version of Agnus Dei for ITV's My Favourite
NORWICH have called off the hunt for Burnley striker Gareth Taylor - for now! Burnley have been bracing themselves for an improved offer from the Canaries after throwing out the recent £300,000 bid. But City boss Nigel Worthington is happy to play the
