BEYOND the fruit machine and the strong smell of beer and up some stairs, a play is in progress. Although at the moment there's nothing elaborate in the way of scenery - just a few chairs represent the parameters of the stage - and the cast don't know
THE grouse shooting season begins on August 12, and we have found that extremists involved in hunt sabotage are already recruiting shooting saboteurs via their website for the coming season. This tallies with an increase in animal rights activity around
I DON'T understand the attitude of the prominent member of the Kashmiri Association who felt that if something didn't come from the search of the Lower Audley Tyre Centre it would damage race relations in Blackburn. The search, we assume, was carried
I WONDER if readers could help me find relatives in Accrington please. I am trying to contact any members of the Whittaker family who lived in Accrington. They were relatives of my grandmother, who I went to see during my National Service in 1948. I was
UNSWORTH councillor Sam Cohen has been appointed to represent Bury on the Greater Manchester Police Authority. The retired company director previously served on the authority in 1995, at the end of a 12-year spell as a local Conservative councillor. He
THE mascot of a Ramsbottom shop has been ab-duckted! The two-foot tall, wood-carved character, resembling Donald Duck's father, was stolen during the early hours of Monday. Now the owners of Puddleducks children's clothing shop in Bolton Street, are offering
A YOUNG woman required emergency surgery to remove an iron spike from her thigh. Francesca Knowles was attempting to step over a metal fence outside her home in Turton Road, Tottington, when she lost her balance and fell backward on to a prong. Neighbours
FIRE crews today claimed that East Lancashire towns were being left with dangerously low levels of cover because of staff shortages. They hit out after Darwen was left without full-time fire cover and cover in Blackburn was reduced from three to two pumps
BLACKBURN Rovers are on target to have a full strength squad for this Saturday's Premiership curtain raiser against West Brom. Apart from long term broken foot victim Steven Reid, the injury doubts that were hanging over Graeme Souness's players during
TRAVELLERS who broke into a Preston car park last week, were moved on in less than 24 hours. On Thursday July 29 commuters arrived at Walton-le-dale Park and Ride car park, to find eight caravans parked up. The travellers were caught on closed circuit
THERE was triple joy for a Leyland graduate who scooped three awards for excellence at her graduation ceremony. Lindsay Beardsworth, 22, of Sandy Lane, received her chiropractice degree two weeks ago from Glamorgan University. And she could not believe
A LEYLAND pop duo is taking the next step to stardom by supporting one of the country's most popular boy bands on their UK theatre tour. Jon and Yew Han Baker, who are Supatonic, will kick off their tour with Blazin' Squad today (Thursday) when they play
BAE Systems has been awarded a £76m contract to assist in the support and maintenance of the RAF's fleet of Tornados. The multi-million pound deal secures the jobs of more than 800 workers, at the company's Warton site, near Preston, who work on the Tornado
A CHILDCARE lecturer is jetting off to Romanian to help orphaned, poor and sick children enjoy their summer holidays. Lynne Gregson, programme coordinator of childcare education at Preston College, is taking seven students to Zomostea, in the North East
'PEW for two' could soon be ringing out in a church near you -- that's if Preston vicar Alison Gilchrist has her way. The Rev Gilchrist is urging churches to follow the example of McDonald's and Asda in a bid to boost the dwindling numbers of worshippers
A QUIET neighbourhood and a nature reserve in Preston are being terrorised by menaces on motorbikes. Residents in Grizedale Crescent, Ribbleton, claim the land near their homes has been overrun for years by people on scrambler motorbikes. The riders use
A BANNED driver who flouted a court order for the fourth time has been jailed for three months. Burnley Magistrates heard how jobless Stephen Forsythe, 25, who had already got behind the wheel twice this year, lied to police. His solicitor told the court
LIBRARY bosses in Burnley today promised that disruption caused by a £100,000 refurbishment would be worth it when it re-opens in October. Senior councillors have taken the decision to close Colne Road library, next Tuesday to ensure that the transformation
LANCASHIRE County Council was told it must try harder to get more women employed in top jobs, but Blackburn with Darwen Council has almost reached a union target. The authority was ranked 119 in a GMB survey of 149 county and unitary authorities in England
LEADERS of Burnley's Muslim community are demanding urgent talks with Burnley Council over fears of a lack of space for burials in the town's cemetery. All six of the town's mosques have put forward representatives following a meeting to discuss the concerns
A GRIEVING mother today demanded answers after her teenage son was found hanging at the detention centre where he was being held. Adam Rickwood, 14, from Burnley, died after being found in his room at the Hassockfield Centre, in Consett, County Durham
YOUNGSTERS will be able to learn new sporting skills following the appointment of two new coaches who will visit schools in South Ribble. Gareth Piper and Nick Jackson-Cooney have been appointed as 'multi-skilled' coaches' and will be working in secondary
IT may be that bowler Charl Langeveldt has played his last game for Morecambe this season, as he has been called up for the South African squad. If so, it will be a game too late for Preston as he destroyed their victory hopes by taking seven wickets
WE heard on the news about a teenager drowning in a Bolton reservoir. That weekend we took our family for a walk in Burrs Country Park in Bury and witnessed a group of around 30 teenagers jumping in the river near the weir. We even recognised some of
ORGANISERS of the 15th annual Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival at Colne are hailing this year's line-up as one of the best ever. The event, which is one of the biggest celebrations of blues music in the country, comes to Colne every August Bank
A PLUMBER was jailed for 21 months on Tuesday for the manslaughter of a soldier in May. Terence Biggs, 26, of Chindits Way, Fulwood, killed Corporal Richard Fox, a member of the 5 General Support Regiment, with a punch to the head at a party at the Heathcote's
PLANNING bosses have deferred an application for a new multi-million pound redevelopment of Fishergate Shopping Centre, Preston, because of congestion fears. The development, FG2, would include an anchor store with 12 more shops and a multi-storey providing
A COUNCIL housing estate was to get a multi-million pound facelift as part of a Government Estate action programme. The Galligreaves Estate in Blackburn was to be overhauled and improved with almost £8million. The project was welcomed by council leaders
PEOPLE were having to wait longer for new homes as the rainy summer put a stop to building work in East Lancashire. A council's engineering department official said that he had never seen building sites so empty in the summer months. Building work throughout
VIEWERS in East Lancashire were facing a weekend without ITV as the electrician's dispute entered its fourth week. All depended on the result of a meeting held on the day by electricians' union EEPTU. Thames TV was also off air so some programmes due
A MAN with more than 40 convictions for shoplifting has been banned from entering shops in Hyndburn for three years. Andrew Hill, 26, of Rothwell Avenue, Accrington, was described by police as a "prolific offender." He has now received an anti-social
A SHOP worker who helped herself to cash from a till, only to be framed by CCTV, has been spared prison. Preston Crown Court was told that suspicions about Julie Hunt had resulted in the security being set up. The owner of the shop, The Cabin Convenience
RONNIE Moore is hoping to break out into a wide smile when he glances at Burnley's teamsheet tonight. The Rotherham manager can be forgiven for scanning the line-up for the whereabouts of son Ian. And if, like last Saturday, Moore is deployed wide on
Millmoor, tonight 7.45pm ROTHERHAM (probable 4-4-2) POLLITT MINTO GILCHRIST SWAILES STOCKDALE SHAW MULLIN GARNER SEDGWICK BARKER PROCTOR BURNLEY (probable) (4-1-4-1) COYNE DUFF McGREAL SINCLAIR CAMARA GRANT MOORE CHAPLOW HYDE BRANCH BLAKE Referee: Chris
THE new 'day job' at Colne means I had to miss the opening game of the season for the first time in quite a few years. But like most Burnley fans, I would happily have taken a draw before the game. I know it's great to win your first game, but against
STEVE Cotterill's honeymoon period is over! The Burnley boss admits he was disappointed not to start a new life at Turf Moor with an opening day victory over Sheffield United. But his relationship with Clarets fans already looks like a marriage made in
BLACKBURN bowling duo Bharat Tripathi and Joseph Hawke were in fine form as they helped Lancashire Under 14s to a comfortable seven wicket victory over Cumbria at Haslingden. Tripathi spear-headed Lancashire's attack claiming a superb 5-3 to help dismiss
WHEN Twenty20 cricket was introduced last summer there were those who said it would shatter the traditional game, but after Saturday's finals day at Edgbaston the event could well become a tradition in its own right. Cricket has been struggling to find
TWO East Lancashire musicians are attempting to transform the area into a hot-bed of live music by organising a series of gigs at a Blackburn nightspot. John Yates, a member of Crowbar Smile and Anthony Roberts, from Igwaana, have formed their own promotion
A VILLAGE footpath is to close for fencing work. Warrington Council has issued a temporary order affecting the route in Hurst Lane, Glazebury. It is expected the work on footpaths 136 and 139 will last until the end of August. The restrictions will be
A VILLAGE footpath is to close for fencing work. Warrington Council has issued a temporary order affecting the route in Hurst Lane, Glazebury. It is expected the work on footpaths 136 and 139 will last until the end of August. The restrictions will be
ELTON, Darcy Lever and Atherton continue to slug it out at the top of the Bolton Association after all three won on Saturday. Leaders Elton maintained a six-point advantage with a nine-wicket win at Astley and Tyldesley. Rob Bennett's 63 runs helped the
PRO Nishit Shetty had a good day as Greenmount beat Bradshaw by eight wickets in the Bolton League. First he took 5-51 to limit Bradshaw to 172-7, after the Bradshaw batsmen were able to make only one scoring shot off his first nine overs. Then he hit
MARKET foreman Bill Hewitt is to retire from Darwen Market. Bill, who started off his links with the market running his own stall -- Bill's Frozen Foods - will retire after his final day of work on Saturday. Staff at Darwen Town Hall, the Darwen Town
A GROUP opposed to plans for a wind farm in Rossendale gathered yesterday to prepare to fight the proposals at a public inquiry. Campaigners involved in Friends of Scout and Knowl Moor attended a meeting at the Norton Grange Hotel, in Rochdale. The plans
DUE to the generosity of many local people, a container of urgently needed goods left on Friday, bound for orphans in Africa. Thank you to all those people who donated so kindly to the Malawi Container Appeal organised by charity, the Friends of Mulanjie
A HOLIDAYMAKER has been left fighting for his life after being punched in an row outside a Blackpool pub and hit by a car. Phillip Langton, 25, was punched in the head following an argument with two younger men as he left the New Road Inn pub on Talbot
A REMARKABLE dog from Poulton is set to be honoured at a national dog show next week. Bracken the border collie has helped save the lives of walkers missing on Pendle Hill and joined the search for missing cocklers in Morecambe Bay earlier this year.
TOWN centre traders fear a damaging month of lost business as major construction work continues some three months after it was due to be finished. Most of Abingdon Street and part of Church Street will be closed for the next month, at the height of the
CHURCHES should take a leaf out of McDonald's' and Asda's books when it comes to having 'greeters', says ex-Blackpool vicar, Alison Gilchrist. The former church worker has written Creating a Culture of Welcome in the Local Church, a booklet including
DOORSTEP salesmen have been bullying elderly Blackburn women into buying intercoms - by drilling holes in their front doors. One man starts installing the £39 product - which police warned is poor quality - while another is still giving the sales pitch
AN investment company is behind the £100million-plus move to buy Blackburn shopping centre. London-based The Mall group has snapped up 17 shopping centres since being formed three years ago -- most recently the St George's Centre in Preston. The name
THE long-awaited hot weather has finally arrived....bringing with it thunderstorms, floods and sleepless nights. And across East Lancashire, tired workers are complaining that it is "just too hot to get a good night's kip". CAROLINE INNES reports. AFTER
STANLEY 0 GREAT HARWOOD 0 Great Harwood won 3-0 on penalties GREAT Harwood claimed the VMI Trophy from Accrington Stanley after the game was settled by a penalty shoot-out for the second successive year. And it is a massive boost to the Robins as they
I AM pleased that incoming visitors to Blackpool will have much better first impressions of the town after the roadworks have been completed. But what impressions are they going to have when they visit the promenade? They will think 'Yes, Blackpool Council
A FAR-RIGHT political group launched a recruitment drive in Blackpool this week. The National Front, which advocates 'phased and humane repatriation' of all 'non-white' people in the UK, says it had brought around 10 activists in the resort in a bid to
THIS time last year -- like correspondent Margaret Whittaker (July 30) -- I too felt that Bury Agricultural Show could have been better. But rather than criticising, I answered their appeal for help and joined the committee with a view to regenerating
Doors open at 7.30pm with the show due to commence at 8.30pm. Tickets cost £4.50 each from the Alabama or Shangri-La, Topping Street.
AN ALLERGY advice centre will run at St Paul's Medical Centre, Dickson Road, Blackpool this Wednesday (August 11), 2pm-6pm. The public are invited to pop in for free advice from Co-op health care staff and pharmacist Sarah Barraclough. No appointment
A NEW advice centre for disabled people at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is 'a great success' its founders say. The centre, staffed by Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre's Disability Information and Support (DIS) service, helps with questions and issues faced by
REGRETFULLY, I cannot claim to be an "expert" -- as some have suggested -- in opposing planning approval of mobile phone transmitter masts. So, if there is anything that true experts can add to what I write, I would be most grateful. However, I do not
North West Air Ambulance table top sale, outside Colne Market Hall, 10am-noon. Summer Theatre School (age 7-18) King George's Hall, Blackburn. Until Friday. Rossendale Organ & Keyboard Club meet Rossendale United Social Club, Staghills Road, Newchurch
IT seems ridiculous that a doctor due to begin work at Blackburn Royal Infirmary should be clamped for leaving his car in an unmarked bay after driving round for 25 minutes looking for a staff parking spot. In the high-pressure world of hospitals the
I WRITE in answer to Mr B Corbett of Lower Darwen (LET, July 31) who asked who was responsible for the traffic mess in Blackburn. I can only tell him of the time when we could have had a proper orbital road, but were frustrated by a set of unfortunate
A TEENAGE man pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving in which a motorcyclist from Leigh was killed. Shaun Unsworth, aged 19, of Aneline Street, Chorley, is charged with the manslaughter of 38 year old biker Phillip Taylor, of Alt Lane, following
A BURY woman has admitted a charge of racially aggravated public disorder over a row with a taxi driver. Bury magistrates heard how the behaviour of 44-year-old Christine Leary of Parr Lane, Unsworth, which included a racist remark to the driver, had
A GRIEVING mother today demanded answers after her teenage son was found hanging at the detention centre where he was being held. Adam Rickwood, 14, from Burnley, died after being found in his room at the Hassockfield Centre, in Consett, County Durham
WATER bills are set to rise 13 per cent by 2010. The increase was announced by water watchdog, Ofwat, who published the draft price limits for United Utilities Water for the next five years. If the proposals are accepted in December, water bills will
EVEN though the summer is supposed to be the 'off season' as far as football is concerned it's never far from a Rovers fan's mind. I'd hazard a guess that I wasn't the only one perusing internet sites and reading newspaper back pages hoping for a snippet
A WOMAN has sold up lock, stock and barrel and is planning to jet off to sunny Spain in a bid to ease the symptoms of a condition that makes her feel the cold intensely. Judith Wilkinson, 59, of Odell Road, Walton-le-Dale, plans to live in the picturesque
THE FAMILY of a Pakistani woman who was deported has vowed to bring her back to the country for a safer life. William Gill, 44, of Rutland Street, Ribbleton, Preston, said that he will not rest until his sister-in-law Aksa Gill, 43, and her three children
A TROUPE of glam girls will be adding extra spice to match day entertainment at Deepdale this season. The PNE Lillies will mingle with fans at this Saturday's home game against Watford and plan to develop their act to incorporate an American-style cheerleading
A BURNLEY football fan took to the famous Mastermind hot seat last night to be quizzed on his favourite past-time - the Clarets. Tony Dawber racked up an impressive 13 points answering questions on his team under the scrutiny of host John Humphrys. When
GRAHAM Barrow has told his Bury side to use their heads as they look to build on a winning start to their Coca Cola League Two campaign on Tuesday night. Barrow is expecting an aerial bombardment as the Shakers travel to Bristol Rovers on the back of
THE great clean-up of Pendle's canal corridor has begun. In the first blitz, six volunteers helped to tackle the canal towpath and surrounding area between Lob Lane Bridge, Clitheroe Road, Brierfield, and Lomeshaye Road canal bridge, Nelson. Community
A 26-YEAR-OLD Nelson woman who was forced to give up bar work after badly burning her hands in an accident at work has been awarded £4,700 in compensation. Catherine Ibbetson, of Nelson, was cleaning machinery at Woodhead Bros Meat Company in Colne, when
FOUR youths have been cleared of a road rage attack that was said to have left a Colne shopkeeper injured and bleeding. Bodrul Alam, 18, of Duke's Brow, Blackburn; Alamin Hussain, 18, of Queens Avenue, Chester; and Ajad Miah, 18, and Ahad Miah, 20, both
A DISTINCT lack of communication between staff led to a shopkeeper being charged with selling alcohol to children. Mark Donlan (42), of Abden Street, Radcliffe, the licensee of MD Off Licence, on Abden Street, appeared before Bury Magistrates on Thursday
HUNDREDS of Preston North End fans turned out on Saturday for the long awaited unveiling of the Splash statue of footballing legend Sir Tom Finney. The £200,000 statue, which has been eight years in the making by sculptor Peter Hodgkinson, is a solid
A GREAT Harwood soldier is finally honoured on the town's cenotaph -- more than 50 years after his death. The inscription of Robert Clark's name was officially unveiled in Memorial Park in front of his family, the Royal British Legion, a bugle player
A SENIOR government minister and international business leaders are set to appear at an East Lancashire business conference in Blackburn. Organiser Blackburn with Darwen Council said its Learning, Cohesion and Business Advantage event would be a major
POLICE in Accrington have reassured the town's youth that an unprovoked attack on a teenage girl sparked by her 'Goth' clothing was a one-off. The 16-year-old was stabbed in the back as she waited with her boyfriend for a bus in Peel Street on Thursday
What's the fascination with rising star RAGHAV? SAIMINA VIRMANI catches up with the singer on the Mela Circuit Need to buy some washing up liquid". They say that it is at the most difficult moments that people remember the unexpected. In my case it was
A MOTHER who suffocated herself using a plastic bag had refused to seek help for her apparent depression. 68-year-old Fatemah Nemati, of Bury Old Road, Prestwich, was already dead when a police officer found her lying in bed. The alarm was raised when
Kendal 191-9 Blackpool 127 Kendal 213-6 Fleetwood 213-5 BLACKPOOL lost their fifth game of the season at Stanley Park on Saturday as Kendal were victorious by 64 runs having made 191-9 and then bowled Blackpool out for just 127. But on Sunday it was a
The former Burnley midfielder always seems to find an extra gear when facing the Clarets. Now operating in a central midfield role, Mullin, signed by Ronnie Moore for £150,000 in October 2001, still bags his share of goals and has scored against his former
IT WAS Billy Bragg who sung "There is no real substitute for a ball struck squarely and firmly." Amen to that. Yes, the football season is upon us again in all its thrilling, tense, wonderful and sometimes disappointing glory. For Burnley supporters,
BURNLEY boss Steve Cotterill believes he will struggle to add any more free signings to his squad. Cotterill has rebuilt his squad with five players arriving over the summer for the paltry sum of just £55,000. Cotterill can still raid the loan market,
LANCASHIRE League club Colne launched their Floodlit Cricket Festival at The Horsfield last night. Colne skipper Steve Woods, Nelson's Danny Kegg and the host club's wicketkeeper Dave Swarbrick were at last night's launch, pictured left, as representatives
THIS summer's Twenty20 competition has proved to be a real bonus - and not just for the county game. Group matches this season have been played to full houses and the kick on from that has seen more youngsters taking an interest at club level. It is now
BLACKBURN Rovers are on target to have a full strength squad for this Saturday's Premiership curtain raiser against West Brom. Apart from long term broken foot victim Steven Reid, the injury doubts that were hanging over Graeme Souness's players during
A GARDENER has stepped in to repair a damaged memorial bush and end a widow's weeks of heartbreak. Wendy Wilkinson, 47, of Barons Close, Lower Darwen, has been waiting since June 16 for waste contractors "RU Recycling?" to repair the memorial bush one
ONE of East Lancashire's oldest cub packs could fold if two new leaders do not come forward. An appeal for volunteers was made in this month's Around the Spire church magazine for St Anne's Turton. The 1st Turton pack was formed as a scout group in 1948
A COMMUNITY is fighting to save rows of terrace homes which are set to be bulldozed as part of the rejuvenation of East Lancashire housing. And today Darwen MP Janet Anderson slammed the local council's handling of the situation and promised residents
FIRE crews battled to tackle flooding that affected a row of terrace houses in Laneshaw Bridge. Six houses in Southfield Terrace suffered flooded basements after heavy overnight rain. Firefighters from Burnley and Nelson battled to pump the water from
PLANS to introduce further council tax hikes have been slammed by a prospective Rossendale Conservative MP. Tory prospective parliamentary candidate Nigel Adams spoke out after plans were outlined in a report commissioned by the government. Whitehall
FEARS of job losses because of cost-cutting at a Blackpool hospital are unfounded, the hospital says. Possible movement of staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital into new roles to save money prompted fears that job losses may be looming, but a hospital
A LEADING St Annes employer has been bought out by its management team. Energy specialist Inenco says the deal will help to secure more than 140 jobs at the St Andrews Road North business. The buyout was lead by managing director, Nigel Withey along with
IT'S almost 30 years since the lightsaber first captured the imagination of a generation of budding Luke Skywalkers, Hans Solos and Princess Leias across the world. But - despite being the weapon of choice for any self-respecting Jedi Knight - Blackpool
HISTORIC seating from a Blackpool Council meeting room could be relocated to the town's library if controversial plans to rip it out get the go ahead. Heritage groups and opposition Conservative councillors have reacted with outrage to plans for a refurbishment
COCKLES picked recently at Pilling Sands could be dangerous if eaten by humans, a Wyre resident fears. The woman, who asked not to be named, said she'd seen cocklers working last week around Fluke Hall sands, Pilling, despite a closure notice on mussel
PRESTON is leading the way in a 'wireless' revolution with a state-of-the-art system that will allow people to go online in shops and pubs across the city. The new wireless network, pioneered by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and computer
A DOCTOR on his first day at Blackburn Infirmary was among the staff and visitors to have their cars clamped as part of a parking blitz. Today hospital bosses admitted there were not enough spaces to go around. But they said the problem would be resolved
FIRE crews today claimed that East Lancashire towns were being left with dangerously low levels of cover because of staff shortages. They hit out after Darwen was left without full-time fire cover and cover in Blackburn was reduced from three to two pumps
BLOOD donor sessions are to be held in Bury and Ramsbottom. The Bethesda Church in Parkhills Road, Bury, will hold two sessions, on Monday, August 16 and on Monday, September 6. Each of these will take place between 1.30pm and 3.30pm and between 5.30pm
THE disappointing news of the refusal of the government to finance the tramways comes as no surprise. Nothings lasts for ever and if they had been run on a more secure footing the present situation would not have arisen. Over a long period the council
YOUR readers may be aware that the Tory group on Wyre refused to allow debate at last week's full council in the "confidence" that members have in Cllr Vincent's running of Wyre Borough following the appalling CPA assessment. Their reasoning was that
FOLLOWING Mr P Roscoe's letter in last week's edition of your Citizen newspaper, may I add a few words. We were a proud nation years ago. Great Britain we were called, with a wonderful heritage made up by people in the past over hundreds of years. Now
SINCE the Wyre Labour Group walked out of the Council meeting on July 29, I have been asked why? I will try to explain. The Labour Group had submitted a motion of no confidence in the Leader Cllr Vincent. It was scheduled to be debated but the Conservatives
A COFFEE morning will take place at Kilmory Day Centre, off Briarwood Drive, Bispham, on August 11, 10am-noon. Admission free, with a small charge for coffee. There will also be stalls including bric-a-brac and books at the event, run by Kilmory's Over
CLEVELEYS A COFFEE morning is held at Cleveleys Park Methodist Church, West Drive, every Wednesday morning throughout the year (except Christmas week), 10.30am-noon. Everyone welcome. BISPHAM TOWER organist David Windle will hit the right note with an
SOCIAL services have slammed a BBC investigation into a private day nursery, claiming it wasted staff and police time. The undercover operation at Bank House Day Nursery in Radcliffe resulted in a member of staff being suspended, but she has since been
GOALKEEPER is now the priority position for Colin Hendry after two central defenders and a young striker completed moves to Blackpool this week. England under-20 skipper, Rob Clare, joined on a free-transfer from Stockport County. The move, which has
