Archive

  • Multi faith lessons for all our schools

    THE concerns expressed by the Bishop of Burnley (LET, August 1), over the BNP's objection to the teaching of multi faith religions in our schools would be more acceptable if he were to confirm that other sections of society were also giving lessons on

  • Was hard work for nothing?

    I WISH I was as well informed about our education system as R Bracewell is (Letters, August 27), I could have saved myself two years of hard work and effort had I realised that A levels and GCSEs were one and the same thing. Of course I didn't need to

  • Support plea for safer kiddies surfing

    I AM writing to express concern that children should be able to surf the internet safely. Over the holidays we see young people spending more time on the internet. This is fun, and can be a powerful tool for learning and exchanging information. Sadly,

  • Chimney chump

    A MAN who climbed a 300ft mill chimney after a drunken bet has been labelled a stupid fool after he had to be rescued by fire crews. The 38-year-old from Darwen climbed onto the roof of India Mill and then up to the top of the ladder that runs up the

  • Three boys rescued in sea drama

    A MAJOR investigation was launched today after three boys from a Burnley care home were stranded by the rising tide in a dangerous river estuary. The inquiry will centre on how the youngsters managed to wander off from carers during a day trip to Southport

  • Souey's Dino delight

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today hailed the capture of Dino Baggio after the Italian joined Rovers over the weekend. The former Italian international has signed on loan from Lazio until the end of the season. And Souness is thrilled to have him on

  • I quit Scotland for my family's sake

    BLACKBURN Rovers' new signing Barry Ferguson last night admitted he had to quit Scotland for the sake of his family. The former Rangers skipper spoke for the first time about the sectarian abuse he and his family used to suffer in the soccer-mad city

  • Lifeboat rescues two schoolboys

    COASTGUARDS and helicopter search teams rescued two Burnley schoolboys after they became stranded while crossing an estuary in Lytham. The rescue took place around 1am today after the boys went missing while on a trip to Pleasureland amusement park in

  • New store welcomed as 'great asset'

    A FORMER supermarket site in Burnley town centre has been brought back to life with the creation of 32 new jobs. The Staples stationery store at the former Sainsbury's site in Church Street was officially opened by the Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Lilian

  • Come on Clarets

    ALASTAIR Campbell swapped the spotlight surrounding his resignation as Tony Blair's director of communications for the spotlights of Turf Moor as he netted a prime seat for Burnley's clash against Crewe at the weekend. The political 'spin doctor' announced

  • Patrols stepped up after sex attack

    POLICE have patrolling the Duke Bar area of Burnley after a man violently sexually assaulted a lone woman. Police said the local woman, aged 30, was walking near the Kwiksave store in the early hours of Wednesday morning when she was attacked and then

  • 'Super council' shun

    A NEW East Lancashire 'super council' is one of the ideas set to be shunned by Blackburn with Darwen councillors. A referendum is due to be held next year when voters will be asked whether they want to scrap the county and borough councils and replace

  • Weir plans 'in jeopardy'

    A MULTI-MILLION pound plan to develop Padiham Weir into a canoeing and fishing centre will falter if councillors fail to pay £10,000 towards the project, it has been warned. The money is part of £70,000 needed to develop the abandoned weir site, which

  • 'Fitting memorial' to tragic player

    A PROUD father whose son died after being hit in the eye with a cricket ball today spoke of his hope that a charity match in his honour would become an annual event. The charity cricket match in memory of former Lancashire player Ian Folley 10 years after

  • Delight as show makes comeback

    THOUSANDS of visitors from Pendle and beyond converged on Barrowford at the weekend for the village's 81st agricultural show. Months of planning went into making sure that this year's show, which returned after a break of two years because of foot and

  • Delight as show makes comeback

    THOUSANDS of visitors from Pendle and beyond converged on Barrowford at the weekend for the village's 81st agricultural show. After a two-year break because of foot and mouth, months of planning went into making sure that the show, at Barrowford Park

  • Call to curb toxic site stink

    A CHEMICAL pong which left residents afraid to open windows during the recent heatwave will be discussed at a meeting tonight. Residents living around Unit 16 of Barnfield Business Centre are expected to pack a meeting of the Nelson Area Committee that

  • Teenager robbed of mobile phone

    TWO men threatened a 19-year-old man in Radcliffe before stealing his mobile phone and his pair of trainers. The teenager was in Dumers Lane on Sunday at 9pm when he was robbed. His phone was worth £250 and his sports shoes were valued at £120.

  • Ten years ago

    THE fifth annual Teddy Bear's Picnic attracted a bumper crowd at Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom. Children clutched teddies of all shapes and sizes and prizes were given for the oldest, biggest and trendiest bears.

  • Pensioner saved from muddy pond

    A PENSIONER used her mobile phone to alert emergency services when she became stuck in a muddy pond while trying to free her dog. Police said the 67-year-old, who has not been named, tried to rescue one of her two dogs from the pond at Springwood picnic

  • Bin row sparks black bag blitz

    ENVIRONMENTAL chiefs in Hyndburn are launching a blitz on people who do not use their wheelie bins. Residents could be facing fines of up to £1,000 as part of the council's zero tolerance campaign. Householders in the the Woodnook area of Accrington,

  • Historic church damaged in arson attack

    ARSONISTS were slammed after targeting an historic Gothic-style church which holds memories for scores of worshippers. Sacred Heart was the second Hyndburn church to be attacked in three days after West End Methodist's newly refurbished building, in Blackburn

  • Labourer jailed for beating up boss

    A LABOURER who "flipped" and gave a construction firm supervisor "a significant beating," was today starting an 18-month jail term. Burnley Crown Court heard how father of three and voluntary worker Lee Neill, 29, saw red after being blamed for damage

  • Trio pounce for phone

    A 20-YEAR-OLD man was punched and kicked by a gang in Whitefield when he refused to hand over his mobile phone to thieves. He was walking along Philips Park Road West on Sunday at about 11.15pm when he was threatened by three men. After they assaulted

  • Cyclists on 1,100-mile pedal

    A TEAM of cyclists from Malta passed through the Ribble Valley as they set off on a 1,100-mile journey. The 28-strong team used Stonyhurst College as the starting point for the eight-day round trip which will take in northern England and Scotland. They

  • Shop until you drop...to sleep

    THE summer heatwave saw many people turn to the internet for a bit of late night shopping, according to new research. The number of shoppers logging on to stock up on their groceries between the hours of midnight and 6am, has leapt by 73 per cent, sales

  • Richard is a happy Chappy

    AS A diversionary tactic, it worked a treat. Alistair Campbell provided the mass distraction to allow Burnley to deploy their own deadly weapon in the form of midfield foot soldier Richard Chaplow. And the inquiry is probably still raging in the Crewe

  • My skipper is no thug

    GRAEME Souness today leapt to the defence of Garry Flitcroft after the Rovers skipper was accused of elbowing Chelsea midfielder Manu Petit in the face. Flitcroft and Petit clashed during the second half of Saturday's thrilling 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge

  • Grant: Only the beginning

    TONY Grant reckons he is finally fighting fit and ready to become the meaty midfielder Burnley need. Grant's gritty man-of-the-match performance against Crewe on Saturday was the perfect answer to criticism from manager Stan Ternent and the knockers in

  • Make a date to hear Teen Angel author

    RADCLIFFE author Glennyce Eckersley will be reading from her new book, Teen Angel, at Bolton Library next week. The reading will take place on Friday, September 12, in the Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm. Tickets, which are free and available from the library

  • Web guide offers new virtual hike

    WALKERS can now take a hike round some of Lancashire's finest countryside without setting foot outside their homes -- thanks to a new internet service. The Pennine Moor village of Edgworth is the first location to be featured on Lancashire County Council's

  • Revellers wrecked shop in drunken attack

    FOUR men trashed a Darwen off-licence after drinking heavily on a head-wetting celebration. Magistrates sitting in Blackburn watched a video that showed shopkeeper Ashraq Shigri being punched in the face when he went to remonstrate with the men. The "

  • School asbestos scare

    A HEALTH and Safety investigation has been launched after it was revealed asbestos was found at a Rossendale high school. The discovery was made during refurbishment work on the science laboratories at Haslingden High. The substance, an insulation material

  • Extra NHS dentist allocated to town

    THE problem of East Lancashire's acute shortage of dentists is being tackled with the introduction of two new NHS dentists. It is hoped £163,602 made available from the Department of Health to fund the dentists and their equipment will help get to the

  • Glendon's glee at solid start

    RADCLIFFE Boro manager Kevin Glendon declared he was thrilled with his side's start to their life in Unibond Premier League. Despite only winning one of their four games, Glendon believes his side have adapted well and is looking to the Borough's forthcoming

  • Boro breeze to goal rout

    Radcliffe Borough 4, Wakefield & Emley 1: RADCLIFFE Borough enjoyed a comfortable victory thanks to an unlikely hat-trick from Gary Sampson. Borough's neat football saw them dominate the game from start to finish and Sampson set them on their way

  • Saunders bailed again as gas probe continues

    POLICE are carrying out further inquiries into allegations that Blackburn Rovers coach Dean Saunders tampered with a gas supply. Saunders, 39, answered bail yesterday, but was told he had been bailed again until September 25. The former Liverpool striker

  • 'Suicide' car park safety review call

    A COUNCILLOR has called for a safety review at Blackburn's biggest multi-storey car park after a 17-year-old girl tried to jump from it. Firefighters rescued the girl from a ledge above Debenham's after she fell about 12 feet, injuring her leg at 12.30am

  • Geoff puts on the brakes after 50 years

    AFTER more than 50 years in the motor trade Geoff Catlow is gearing up to enjoy his retirement. The 76-year-old has spent the last 30 years at Bleasdales, in Accrington Road, Blackburn, with his two sons, but will bow out later this month. Peter, 45,

  • Family without hot water for six weeks

    A MOTHER hit boiling point after going more than six weeks without hot water or central heating. Kelly Ainsworth, 23, was awarded a grant through the Eaga Partnership, which works with central government to offer insulation and heating improvements. But

  • Old folk: The home truths

    THE care homes row never seems to go away. Back in 2002, Chris Cheetham, the councillor behind the proposals to close the homes, said the priority was the right care for the elderly. But 18 months on, is that what is happening? DAVID HIGGERSON looks at

  • Lewis told to take a rest

    WONDER winger Eddie Lewis has been told to stay away from training for the next week as Craig Brown's looks to prevent burn-out in his star left player. The American international has been told to pretend he is a European international for the next week

  • Brown predicts goal flood

    AN 18th minute blast from Paul McKenna was enough to ensure Preston grabbed their first three points of the season to lift the Lilywhites to 18th in the league. And happy manager Craig Brown, who reckoned his side had enough chances to win three games

  • Stanley boss fury at ref

    ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman was fighting back his anger after a poor refereeing decision cost his side their first away win of the season. The Reds' chief was furious Stanley had been firstly reduced to 10 men, after Dean Calcutt was shown

  • Coleman feels ref justice

    IN the post match press conference at the Lamb Ground, manager John Coleman found it difficult to keep his frustrations silent. But anyone who had witnessed the previous 90-plus minutes of refereeing ineptitude would find it easy to understand why. On

  • School Head

    A KEEN cricketer and football fan, Stuart Smith took over as head of Habergham High in Burnley two years ago. The school was awarded Beacon Status in two separate bids and is a specialist science and engineering centre. Government money has been ploughed

  • Keeping track of absent pupils

    SPECIALIST officers are being drafted in for the first time to track down missing pupils in Accrington and Burnley. Two pupil tracking officers will visit all secondary schools in the areas from September to July in a bid to find out what has happened

  • Shoppers sign up to help market stay put

    OUTDOOR market traders in Bury have enlisted the help of loyal customers in their fight to remain at their present location. And 700 members of the public signed a protest letter on the first day, backing the traders' "we shall not be moved" stance. Last

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Tuesday, September 2

    A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Over 50s Club, Queensgate Pentecostal Church, Burnley, noon. Children's Street Dance Class, Sanderson Dance and Fitness Centre, 10 Churchill Way, Lomeshaye Industrial

  • Flawed policy still causing upset

    A YEAR ago Lancashire County Council went ahead and approved plans to close 32 of its 48 care homes despite widespread public protests. There were many objections to the plans first talked about two years ago from care home residents, relatives, professionals

  • Collections idea not a good one

    I AGREE with Paul Haworth that fortnightly rubbish collections are a bad idea and could ultimately end up creating more problems. Ribble Valley Council has just been awarded funding from the Government to purchase four split bodied collection trucks that

  • Say what you mean, councillor

    BNP Councillor Evans (Letters, August 6) uses phraseology like 'the indigenous population' and 'the indigenous community of the area.' Just how wide of the mark is his use of the word 'indigenous?' Does he mean 'locals' as in BBC's 'The League of Gentlemen

  • Saudis taught other religions

    I NOW live and work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with my wife and children. I worked in education in Blackburn for eight years before to being appointed to this position two years ago. I was concerned about my children not getting a balanced education

  • Villageon line for new rail station

    MOVES are steaming ahead to bring a railway station back to Golborne. Leigh and Makerfield MPs Andy Burnham and Ian McCartney are keeping up the pressure on politicians and operators following a successful petition. Thousands of residents signed the MPs

  • Leaders give Leigh spanking

    Salford City Reds 46 Leigh Centurions 24 by Mike Hulme: PAUL Terzis offered a brutal assessment of his own team's performance as the Reds continued to hold sway over the Centurions. "We were spanked -- and we had a lot to do with it," admitted the Leigh

  • Form guide...

    THE key stats and moments from the match against Chelsea. ROVERS: BRAD FRIEDEL: Bounced back from last week's blip against City with a typically commanding performance. Couldn't do much about either goal. 7 LUCAS NEILL: Strong and aggressive against Duff

  • Babbel makes Mark in style

    WHEN David Beckham headed off for the bright lights of Madrid this summer, the question of who would inherit his famous number seven shirt became a topic of much debate. The number itself had become almost as legendary as the players who had previously

  • Football scheme aids blind

    A FOOTBALL charity scheme involving Burnley FC has made a £17,983 donation to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The money is a gift from the Football Association and Football Aid, a charity which helps fans achieve their dreams of playing on the

  • Three boys rescued in sea drama

    A MAJOR investigation was launched today after three boys from a Burnley care home were stranded by the rising tide in a dangerous river estuary. The inquiry will centre on how the youngsters managed to wander off from carers during a day trip to Southport

  • Old folk: The home truths

    THE care homes row never seems to go away. Back in 2002, Chris Cheetham, the councillor behind the proposals to close the homes, said the priority was the right care for the elderly. But 18 months on, is that what is happening? DAVID HIGGERSON looks at

  • Shakers throw it away at the death

    Southend United 1 Shakers 0: IT is back to the drawing board for Andy Preece and Graham Barrow after the Shakers' mini revival came to an abrupt end at Roots Hall. Glynn Garner's brilliant performance appeared to have earned Bury a point they barely deserved

  • Festival shows the cycle of life

    CYCLES of all shapes and sizes were on display as the East Lancs Bike Festival rolled into Nelson at the weekend. The event in Victoria Park on Saturday featured a huge range of displays, activities and information about biking in the area. It was organised

  • 'Soft food' diet man choked

    AN ELDERLY nursing home resident who was fed up with the soft food diet he had been put on died after choking on a sandwich he took from the plate of another resident. An inquest into the death of 84-year-old Arturo Canova, who had been in Belgarth Nursing

  • Medical trials for cannabis backed

    MP Gordon Prentice has welcomed new trials using cannabis to relieve post-operative pain as another step towards returning the drug to the medicine cabinet. The Pendle MP has been campaigning for the legalisation of "pot" and its derivatives in medical

  • Last set of badges for charity sale

    THE Barnardo's shop, in Church Street, Colne, is selling its fourth and final set of collectable pin badges to raise funds for the charity this month. Over the last year different badges have been on sale for £1 along the theme of the seasons. The autumn

  • Five years ago

    A FOAL on the brink of death when it was rescued by the RSPCA a year ago became a picture of health in the Ribble Valley. Bruno was found in the back yard of a Rishton house but was given a new lease of life with new owner Vicki Livesey of Copster Green

  • Pensioner saved from muddy pond

    A PENSIONER used her mobile phone to alert emergency services when she became stuck in a muddy pond while trying to free her dog. Police said the 67-year-old, who has not been named, tried to rescue one of her two dogs from the pond at Springwood picnic

  • Don't be lost for words

    IF you ever need to put someone down, and want to get away with it, call them a foppotee. This and hundreds of other words from the English language can be found at the Compendium of Lost Words (phrontistery.50megs.com) website. These phrases aren't just

  • Take a look at Mars

    IF you want to get a bit closer to Mars than you can at the moment, then the Hubble (hubblesite.org) telescope site is worth a visit. There are some great pictures of this mysterious planet which highlight its snowy ice caps. At the moment the site is

  • Come on Clarets

    ALASTAIR Campbell swapped the spotlight surrounding his resignation as Tony Blair's director of communications for the spotlights of Turf Moor as he netted a prime seat for Burnley's clash against Crewe at the weekend. The political 'spin doctor' announced

  • Why are holidays such hard work?

    LAST Tuesday I returned to work after a week's holiday. It was not a pleasant experience, driving along the road along with dozens of other long-faced motorists, all obviously suffering from post Bank Holiday blues. Today (or tomorrow for some teachers

  • Accident mum still 'poorly'

    A MOTHER-of-three, seriously injured when she was hit by a car outside her home, is still 'poorly but stable' in the Royal Preston Hospital. Elaine Haworth, 35, of Priory Grange, Darwen was injured on August 15. Richard Bradley, 18, of Whitby Drive, Blackburn

  • Chimney chump

    A MAN who climbed a 300ft mill chimney after a drunken bet has been labelled a stupid fool after he had to be rescued by fire crews. The 38-year-old from Darwen climbed onto the roof of India Mill and then up to the top of the ladder that runs up the

  • Wind farm planners to speak at meeting

    PLANS to construct a wind farm are on the agenda for the September meeting of Ramsbottom and Tottington Area Board. The meeting is on Friday, September 9, at 7pm at Christchurch Neighbourhood Centre, Great Eaves Road, Ramsbottom. A representative from

  • Dad and son in cells after City clash

    AN irate dad ended up joining his son in police cells after the teenager was arrested for being drunk and disorderly inside Ewood Park during the game against Manchester City. Blackburn magistrates heard that Geoffrey Wilson Hampton felt his son, Mathew

  • Warm homes needed to put up Mexicans

    AN exchange organisation is appealing to families in East Lancashire to give two teenagers from Mexico a home for ten months. Instep is based in Preston and organises UK study trips for foreign students. It has already found temporary homes around Lancashire

  • 'Super council' shun

    A NEW East Lancashire 'super council' is one of the ideas set to be shunned by Blackburn with Darwen councillors. A referendum is due to be held next year when voters will be asked whether they want to scrap the county and borough councils and replace

  • Ex-colleagues unite for estate clean-up

    TWO men who led a residents association disbanded by Blackburn Council are going head-to-head with a new organisation. Eddie Duxbury and Peter Newton were officers of Bank Top Community Association, Blackburn, when it was dissolved in 2001 because of

  • Parents' Guide... Lunchboxes

    IT'S back to school and for hundreds of East Lancashire parents that means back to packing lunchboxes. But keeping them tantalisingly tasty is no easy task, so here are some tips to keep them interested. Make eating fruit fun: Most children will leave