LANCASHIRE Police are said to deal satisfactorily with phone calls from the general public. They have been singled out for apparently unique praise for promptness, reliability and informing callers of the situation. So here is a police force for the others
REGARDING the call to prayer saga in Audley, Blackburn and Darwen Council has got it right, never mind what Sohail Nawaz from Preston has to say. Never mind that the population in the area may be up to 90 per cent Muslim. What about the other 10 per cent
THE spirit of Wigan Casino is set to be rekindled at a Northern Soul all-nighter featuring the venue's original DJ's. Russ Winstanley will headline the event at New Century House, Corporation Street, Manchester, which will be the city's biggest Northern
Bury 0 Scunthorpe 1: A POOR refereeing decision and a lack of concentration proved costly for a Shakers side who deserved at least a point from this game. This tale of woe is becoming a familiar story following the 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln two weeks
AN Olympic gold medallist is to be the guest speaker at an event to showcase an organisation that helps small businesses across East Lancashire. Sally Gunnell, who won the 400m hurdles at the Barcelona games in 1992 and now works as a presenter for BBC
ALMOST 400 East Lancashire pubs could take their first step towards becoming smoke-free zones by the end of the year after five pub chains agreed to ban smoking at the bar. Enterprise Inns, Mitchells and Butlers, Punch Pub Company, Scottish and Newcastle
Guiseley 0 Chorley 0 HARD-working Chorley fully deserved a second chance in tomorrow night's replay of this FA Cup first qualifying round tie after efficiently containing Guiseley at a wind-swept Nethermoor. Admittedly, the Magpies' task was eased by
CLARETS manager Steve Cotterill goes into tomorrow night's home Carling Cup clash happy to have a selection headache. He has midfielder Micah Hyde back from suspension for the second round clash against Wolves at Turf Moor and, with no added injury problems
LAST night I did something that I haven't done since I was a teenager. No, I didn't attempt to make passionate love in the back of a Hillman Imp although being a middle-aged housewife with only the weekly re-runs of Sex and the City to look forward to
THE annual Rossendale Hospice dinner is to be held on October 16. The evening at Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park ground will have a Rat Pack theme with a number of tribute acts booked. Tribute acts to crooners Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr
A PLANNED Muslim rally in Blackburn town centre was called off on Saturday because of a low turnout. The demonstration, organised by The Muslim Council of Europe, should have seen Muslims march from Bangor Street Community Centre, Whalley Range, to Blackburn
ROUND-the-clock patrols are being launched by council officers to catch people sticking up illegal posters in Blackburn and Darwen. New by-laws have been brought in by Blackburn with Darwen Council, meaning people caught daubing graffiti, dropping litter
A MOTORCYCLIST suffered horrific leg injuries when an overtaking, speeding car smashed into him at a notorious accident blackspot. Samuel Bernstein was enjoying his weekly Sunday morning ride when he was hit by Imran Patel on Grane Road, near Belthorn
BEDFORD High School students have impressed in GCSE and GNVQ exams. Topping the honour list were Richard Doyle 5A*, and Aciea Ali and Adrian Brammer each with 4A* -- all out of 10 GCSE exams. The Leigh school headteacher Stephen Preston said: "It was
ATHERTON LR brushed aside their Albany Northern League side Whickham 3-0 in a one-sided FA Cup first qualifying round tie. Paul Crompton gave them the lead from the penalty spot in the 37th minute. And he netted his second ten minutes after the break,
ALAN Lord's Atherton Collieries side chalked up a much-needed 3-0 win at Great Harwood Town in the NWCL First Division. Jermaine Peters turned in a Mark Jones corner to put them ahead after 15 minutes. And Jones scored the second in the 56th minute, heading
A WOMAN was chased and beaten over the head with a metal bar before being dragged into bushes and kicked. The 22-year-old woman was walking along Kirkhall Lane towards the Asda supermarket in Leigh early on Saturday when a man rode past on a bicycle.
Accrington 2 Leigh RMI 1 by David Magilton: MISSED chances cost Leigh dear as they gave second placed Accrington a run for their money. "With the chances we created we should have taken something from the game," bemoaned RMI assistant manager Gary Kelly
MARK Hughes today paid a glowing tribute to Matt Jansen after the striker's first goal in almost a year got the manager's new reign off to a winning start. Jansen climbed off the bench to grab a dramatic 78th minute winner as Rovers beat Portsmouth 1-
10 years ago SO many people turned up to donate blood at a donor session held in Clitheroe, scores had to be turned away. The centre, in the parish rooms, was jam-packed all day with people willing to donate a pint. Exhausted staff could not get through
THIEVES are stripping empty homes bare as cash problems have halted plans to demolish them. Now residents living nearby fear gangs who have loaded vans with tiles, floorboards and plumbing may now target their homes. Several streets in west Accrington
A PREGNANT woman needed hospital treatment for shock after watching masked car thieves beat up her husband. Mrs Heather Sharples was violently pushed by three men who then launched a savage attack on her 28-year-old husband Adam as he sat in his Audi
Nelson 0 Ashton Town 0 NELSON hit the woodwork twice during this NWCL Second Division clash at Victoria Park, but for most of the game both sides were firing blanks. Visitors Ashton Town looked stronger than their bottom of the table position suggests
MARK Hughes today paid a glowing tribute to Matt Jansen after the striker's first goal in almost a year got the manager's new reign off to a winning start. Jansen climbed off the bench to grab a dramatic 78th minute winner as Rovers beat Portsmouth 1-
RESIDENTS in the Whitehall area of Darwen are fighting plans to open a private children's home near their houses. They believe plans to change a terrace house in Whitehall Terrace into a home for four teenagers will lead to more noise and anti-social
A RECORD crowd turned out in force to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the twelfth Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show. An estimated 60,000 people - including bike fans from the Continent - descended on Rawtenstall yesterday to watch more than 1,000
JACK Straw today admitted to taking fashion tips from former Cabinet colleague Peter Mandelson - but denied he'd been given a "makeover". The Foreign Secretary recently dispensed with his trademark glasses for vari-focal contact lenses. And now his suits
A FIRM has blasted parking bosses for giving burglars a stepping stone into its yard after suffering a spate of break-ins. The owners of Wasp Roofing Supplies, Weir Street, Blackburn, said that the lack of thinking had led to thieves striking three times
Accrington Stanley 2 Leigh RMI 1 IT'S tough at the top. And Accrington Stanley found out just how much on Saturday. The Reds - on the shirt-tails of Barnet, and now Aldershot, at the summit of the Nationwide Conference - are there to be got at, especially
SEDGLEY Park lost their third consecutive National League Division On game on Saturday going down 20-43 to Bristol. Full details soon.
FIVE teenagers were lucky to escape with their lives after their car careered out of control and crashed into a church wall. The four boys and one girl were travelling towards Radcliffe when the driver lost control of the red Rover Metro in Stand Lane
BURNLEY War Games, 7pm; Senior Citizens' Dancing, 8pm (transport provided), Burnley Boys Club. Friends in Bereavement, OT Unit, Burnley General Hospital, 7pm. "Fair Trade," by Phil Gough. Jobsearch Burnley and District Bowling League delegates' meeting
A View from the Lords, with LORD GREAVES LITTLE did I imagine, when I wrote last week that "occasional saboteurs" would try to disrupt the House of Commons as they debated the Hunting Bill, just how true it would become! So what are we to make of it?
IT may sound obvious for a coach to say he's disappointed when his team loses, but in Tim Fourie's case it is a genuine reaction, having played in the same game himself and being acutely aware of just what his players are capable of, writes Peter Collins
I AM writing this letter on behalf of my father who was Sergeant Patrick Battle. He served with the East Lancashire Regiment in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia, where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He and many, many more old soldiers would
IN response to the letter "mad mullah" (LET, September 14), I think Mr Corbett is making this isolated individual a case for all us Muslims to take care of. Suppose I turn the question round and ask Mr Corbett to root out all the fascist "white" people
YEAR after year, pet owners and their pets are subjected to four months of misery and torture caused by fireworks, in order to celebrate November 5, Guy Fawkes Day, a man who was in fact a traitor and was executed as such. With fox hunting almost a thing
A NIGHTCLUB doorman has been charged with the murder of an engineering worker who was found lying outside the premises. And two other men were also due to appear before magistrates today accused of perverting the course of justice. Darren Myers, 38, was
A FIRM has blasted parking bosses for giving burglars a stepping stone into its yard after suffering a spate of break-ins. The owners of Wasp Roofing Supplies, Weir Street, Blackburn, said that the lack of thinking had led to thieves striking three times
MARK Hughes has already begun ringing the changes at Blackburn Rovers following his appointment as the club's new manager. After the players secured their first victory of the season against Portsmouth on Saturday their reward was a nice relaxing ...
Matt Jansen tells ANDY NEILD about a nightmare couple of years, and how the future looks bright under Mark Hughes. . . BLACKBURN Rovers' goal hero Matt Jansen paid an emotional tribute to Mark Hughes after he emerged from a personal nightmare to score
Blackburn Rovers 1 Portsmouth 0 MARK Hughes's installation as the manager of Blackburn Rovers was supposed to signal the dawn of a new era. But for a brief moment on Saturday it was just like the good old days as Ewood Park witnessed the return of not
A NIGHTCLUB doorman has been charged with the murder of an engineering worker who was found lying outside the premises. And two other men were also due to appear before magistrates today accused of perverting the course of justice. Darren Myers, 38, was
A PENDLE group's fight to stop the Government introducing fluoride into water systems has received a major boost. The national body Friends of the Earth has joined the campaign to oppose the fluoridation after its conference in Leicester. The Pendle group
A MOTHER faces a second grilling when the inquest into the death of her three-month-old son resumes today. Donna Hanson, of Church Street, Accrington, spent two tearful hours answering questions about son Toby Woods' death last Monday. The child died
A MOTHER faces giving evidence for a second time when the inquest into the death of her three-month-old son resumes today. Donna Hanson, of Church Street, Accrington, spent two tearful hours answering questions about son Toby Woods' death last Monday.
RAMBLERS descended on Lancashire as new right to roam laws gave walkers an historic chance to explore the area. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act has legally opened up areas of open countryside and common land in South-East and North-West England
CLARETS manager Steve Cotterill goes into tomorrow night's home Carling Cup clash happy to have a selection headache. He has midfielder Micah Hyde back from suspension for the second round clash against Wolves at Turf Moor and, with no added injury problems
DANNY Coyne and Frank Sinclair returned to The Walkers Stadium and provided the perfect answer to any past critics. As the former Foxes pair had their names announced to the crowd there was a notable mixed reaction among the Leicester fans, but by the
Leicester City 0 Burnley 0 STEVE Cotterill has ensured away days with the Clarets are much less exciting than they used to be - and the fans must be delighted. Not too long ago Burnley's travelling supporters would be treated to goal feasts - the debacles
Bacup Borough 0 St Helens Town 0 BACUP were denied the chance to play their usual free-flowing football due to the visitors spoiling tatics and referee's disruptions. Darren Emmett had a shot well saved after linking well with Martin Peters. He then received
Padiham 2 Cheadle Town 1 PADIHAM were far from being at their best on Saturday but still picked up all three points thanks to Steve Pickup's 25-yard strike nine minutes from time. Cheadle's Dave Reynolds had given the visitors a 37th minute lead in this
Clitheroe 2 Wakefield-Emley 2 AFTER storming into an early two-goal lead, Clitheroe will have been disappointed not to be through to the next round of the FA Cup at the expense of their Unibond Premier League opponents. Chris Nestor scored his first goal
Great Harwood 0 Atherton Colls 3 GREAT Harwood Town's poor run of form continued with a crushing home defeat to fellow NWCL Division One strugglers Atherton Collieries. An unmarked Jermaine Peters gave the visitors the lead from six yards on 15 minutes
Ramsbottom Utd 2 Colwyn Bay 1 RAMSBOTTOM continued their march towards the lucrative prospects of the FA Cup first round proper with a well-deserved win over Unibond League outfit Colwyn Bay. Credit must go to both sides for providing an action packed
Rossendale 2 Stocksbridge PS 3 THERE must be something in the half-time brew at Dark Lane this season. As has been the case in a number of games so far, Rossendale were in control of the game at the interval only to produce a second half performance which
CINBADS - Churches together in Boothstown present The Ghosts Of Marvin Grange, a Victorian melodrama by Richard Curtis on Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9. The production is at the Scout and Guide Hall, Chaddock Lane, Boothstown, starting at 7.45pm
PHIL Denney's late winner saw Radcliffe Borough through to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Alsager Town. But Kevin Glendon's Unibond Premier Division side made hard work of beating an Alsager Town side two divisions below them
POLICE are appealing for information about the theft of a large collection of jewellery from a house in Cemetery Road, Darwen. The burglary happened between 8.30am last Monday and 4.45pm on Tuesday. Det Con Mussarat Khan said: "The missing jewellery is
STYLISTS at a Rossendale hair salon rubbed shoulders with the stars at the British Hairdressing Business Awards. The team from Headmasters, Bacup Road, Waterfoot, travelled to London for the prestigious event. Thanks to owner Christine Moffat the salon
PUPILS at a special school in Haslingden got on their new bikes to celebrate the opening of their £180,000 sensory learning garden. The garden, at Tor View School, will improve the learning experience children receive at the Clod Lane site. To mark the
A ROSSENDALE teenager found armed with a knife told police he had it because of the "Edgeside Muppets", a court was told. Daniel Kirk's solicitor told Burnley magistrates the defendant was not talking about the characters seen on television, but a gang
A MAN rescued from a burning building today spoke of his relief and said firefighters "saved my life". Dave Edwards was asleep in his first floor flat, in Todmorden Road, Bacup, when a fire was deliberately started on the ground floor on Saturday. Fire
A NEW taxi rank is to be created in Bacup in a bid to solve the area's problems with drink-related violence. Those behind the move hope it will help reduce crime in the town centre and increase business for taxi drivers and local traders. Taxi drivers
LEIGH Centurions' fight to join RL's elite in Super League has gone right to the top. Leigh MP Andy Burnham tabled a House of Commons Early Day Motion congratulating the Centurions on their success in clinching the National League One league title - and
A £750,000 scheme to tackle sewer flooding in Blackburn town centre is set to inflict traffic misery on drivers for seven months. But United Utilities said the work will bring welcome relief to the owners of 30 properties in Northgate that flood when
MOTORISTS across East Lancashire are still ignoring the law and making calls while behind the wheel. And today Lancashire police warned motorists who are dialling while driving that they are stepping up the anti-mobile phone campaign. Officers from the
A DOORMAN at a Blackburn pub allegedly dragged a female customer outside and told her she was banned after she rejected his amorous advances. Andrew Loughnane, 34, of Collins Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Rosie Fielding and Carl Fisher
FURIOUS Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman demanded extra training for his troops after branding Saturday's display "embarrassing". "I can't remember seeing an Accrington team under me play as bad as we did for the last 15 minutes," blasted Coleman
SEVEN-year-olds across East Lancashire are ploughing ahead with reading, writing and numeracy lessons. What has changed for teachers is the knowledge that this bunch will be the first in 13 years to escape the pressures of one wave of Standard Attainment
