DRINKERS have donated their beer money to help a primary school buy sports and music equipment. The John Smith's brewery has given £700 to Mount Pleasant Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors, after holding a series of fundraising events. The brewery's pubs
A CHEF who has worked with the country's best has revealed how he turned his back on restaurant kitchens to spend more time with his family. And Mark Williamson's decision to cook at a Blackburn nursing home instead has paid off after he won through
A PENDLE pantomime producer could soon be getting his big TV break with a show he describes as "I'm a Celebrity..." for the ordinary person. George Critchley, who produces pantomimes and plays at theatres all over the country through his Barrowford-based
A STUDENT who has lived with cystic fibrosis for 11 years has issued a message of hope to Chancellor Gordon Brown, whose young son has the disease. And the mother of another East Lancashire sufferer has offered further encouragement by saying that those
PLANS to create a 20-cottage holiday complex in Weir have been refused. Councillors received a round of applause from villagers at the development control committee meeting when they unanimously voted to reject the application to create a holiday park
A PASSIONATE plea has been made to entrenched district councillors in a bid to stop their plans to break away from Lancashire County Council. County council leader Coun Hazel Harding made the call at yesterday's cabinet meeting, which discussed plans
WITH Christmas just around the corner I wonder how many readers think about the large number of local people who will spend the Christmas period alone? While the rest of us have good times with family and friends sharing fun and friendship, some have
RE the Hoghton Tower duck/pheasant slaughter. Why would men even contemplate the killing of these gentle, defenceless birds in the name of "sport?" What the general public does not seem to be aware of, are the animal welfare issues surrounding this so-called
THE possibility of a direct rail service from Burnley to Manchester via the defunct Todmorden curve has once again been raised and would no doubt be of benefit to the area. A service from Burnley Manchester Road to Manchester Victoria, presumably calling
A MAST that measures wind speed is being planned by a company in a bid to cut its £1million a year electricity bills. A mast measuring 60 metres high and supported by galvanised steel wire covering an area of 865 metres has been proposed on behalf of
A MYSTERY prankster has left football chiefs baffled after a giant sticker was repeatedly stolen from an advertising billboard. The advertisement is a massive reproduction of Blackburn Rovers loyalty scheme, The Card, and is displayed under Darwen Street
COMMUNITY bosses want to create a lasting memorial to Caneze Riaz by naming a key local centre in her honour. Caneze was killed along with her four daughters in a blaze at their home in Tremellen Street, Accrington, last month. She was well known throughout
CLARETS sharpshooter Andy Gray has the credentials to stay among the Championship's top goalscorers, according to his famous footballing uncle Eddie Gray. The Leeds legend was at Turf Moor on Tuesday night to witness his nephew slam home Burnley's winning
ROMMY Boco has had hopes of handing Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman a New Year boost dashed. The influential midfielder returned to France last month after being told he needed complete rest to prevent a back injury developing into a stress
TAKE That's comeback single Patience' could have been written for Blackburn Rovers midfielder Aaron Mokoena. After an encouraging debut season in the Premiership, Mokoena was surprised to find himself on the outside looking in for most of last season
PAUL Mullin has a good feeling about tomorrow. It's over two months since the Accrington Stanley striker got a league goal. But the 32-year-old has an inkling that his luck is about to change, and that the Reds can put an end to their losing streak
STEVE Cotterill admits he is being careful not to burn out Burnley teenager Chris McCann. The 19-year-old midfielder has played a significant role in Burnley's rise up to fourth in the Championship table. In his second full season at Turf Moor,
CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn part of a Burnley recreation ground into a car park for hospital staff are being recommended for approval. East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust wants to build a car park on part of Rakehead Recreation Ground. The proposal involves
A BURNLEY man's decomposing body was discovered after a barman realised he had not sold him a drink for days, an inquest heard. George Baldwin, 70, may have lain dead for up to three weeks by the time the alarm was raised, making it impossible to find
THE family of a man whose death sparked a murder probe said they were "glad" that detectives' only suspect was dead. The former partner of Frank Landsborough, of Lindsay Street, Burnley, spoke out after the death this week of Carl Turner, 52. Mr Landsborough
A LIFE-long Clarets fan said to have thrown punches at a rival supporter came off worse when he ended up being trampled by a police horse, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how father-of-two Simon Cowburn, 38, had been pushed away and fell
POLICE officers are going undercover on buses after drivers threatened to stop collecting schoolchildren following a spate of bad behaviour by yobs. Officers from Lancashire police, and officials from Lancashire County Council's safer travel unit and
I AM tracing my family tree and would be interested to find out any information about the Wearden family who had a farmhouse in Little Harwood, William Wearden was my great-grandfather and I believe his first wife Mary Ellen died in 1899, aged 32 years
Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes has warned rival bosses he will not sell Lucas Neill on the cheap - even though he's now resigned to the fact his skipper will leave in the New Year. Hughes admitted for the first time last night that Neill is almost
BLACKBURN Rovers boss Mark Hughes will air some of his concerns regarding the way the game is being refereed at Premiership level during a meeting with Keith Hackett next week. Hackett, the man in charge of professional referees, has accepted an invitation
Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman has urged his players to take the momentum of Tuesday's second half display into tomorrow's home game against Shrewsbury - the only game in League Two. Coleman was pleased with the battling qualities his side showed
Aaron Mokoena is backing Benni McCarthy to be the catalyst to a Blackburn Rovers resurgence and break his two-month barren spell in the Premiership. Mokoena said of his fellow South African: "Benni's a goalscorer and a fantastic player but this is
Rossendale United manager Derek Egan believes his side have nothing to fear after giving title chasers Stocksbridge Park Steels a run for their money. The Stags were unlucky to lose 3-2 last weekend, but Egan is ready to make amends and use home advantage
CLITHEROE'S defence could be feeling the pressure after leaking 18 goals in their last two games. The Blues followed up last weekend's 10-1 defeat in the FA Trophy with an 8-1 drubbing at Witton Albion in the UniBond League Challenge Cup. Managerless
Lee Sculpher hopes to have a full squad to choose from as Ramsbottom United seek to get back to winning ways. The Rams have lost their last two games 1-0 - both in cup competitions, against Padiham and Abbey Hey - but Sculpher said enough chances were
DARWEN boss Steve Mullen will make wholesale changes on his under-performing team for the Division Two Trophy clash at Chadderton tomorrow. The Anchor Ground club haven't won in four games and Mullen is concerned his side will lose ground on the division's
COLNE are without four key players for the trip to struggling St Helen's Town. Paul Walker and Matt Pendergast are injured while Chris Ingham and Kieron Roberts are unavailable. However, manager Nigel Coates has been boosted by the return of James Blackburn
DOCTORS can now give patients details of hospital appointments immediately, thanks to a new computer system. The technology, now in 90 per cent of East Lancashire's GP practices, means people will no longer have to wait several days for details to arrive
A MAN who developed lung cancer despite never smoking a cigarette in his life has spoken of his battle for survival. Peter Thompson, 64, had enjoyed a 20-year passion for diving and had even began mountain biking as he entered his seventh decade. But
TWO Blackburn off-licences and one pub are to have their licences reviewed after twice being caught selling alcohol to under-age drinkers. The Awan Food Store, in Mill Hill Bridge Street; The Grove, in Church Street; and Morgan's off-licence, in Livesey
THREE rural communities are set to enjoy a visit from a leading Canadian dance group as part of a pioneering arts initiative. Motus O, which brings together an American gymnast, an Australian sheep shearer and a Canadian figure skater, have produced
THREE of Manchester's finest live acts will tonight "rock 'n' roll" into Blackburn bringing with them an aural arsenal of punk, metal, blues and even a measure of country tonight. The Vipers, The Medicine Bow and Shadow Cops will play at the regular
WHY any woman would want to marry Ian Beale has always been a mystery to me, along with 99.9 per cent of the female population (both in soapland and real life). So it was no surprise that his attempts at tying the knot with Jane didn't go exactly to
Get your sides ready for splitting because it's that time of the month again - Lock n' Load comedy night is coming to Blackburn's King George's Hall on December 2. We spoke to Martin BigPig who is headlining. OF COURSE, Martin BigPig isn't his real
The first part of our video interview with former Blackburn Rovers' striker Kevin Gallacher is now online. In it, he talks about Rovers' season so far and which player has impressed him the most.
A PROLIFIC house burglar has been sent to Coventry - in the hope of keeping him drug-free and protecting the public. Michael O'Brien, who has more than 70 previous convictions, had been on remand, was no longer taking drugs, and had a place waiting at
A FIRM which will make vandal, dirt and weather-proof phones has set up in Nelson. Steven Dade and Andrew Faulkner, have set up DAC Ltd, at Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, thanks to a start-up loan from Lancashire County Council. They will now supply the
A 22-YEAR-OLD motorist who knocked down a child aged three drove off with the mother's screams ringing in his ears, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that Khyam Ahmed Ilyas panicked after sending the boy flying through the air. He refused
TWO Ramsbottom schools are celebrating winning an award at Groundwork's Environmental Oscars. Holcombe Brook Primary and Woodhey High Schools were both nominated by Bury Council for their school travel plans. Holcombe Brook won the Mike Lord Memorial
A NELSON man was part of a gang who beat up a victim after walking uninvited into his home, Burnley magistrates heard. Daniel Machin, 23, did not land any blows, but was said to have gone either to encourage the attack or assist by his presence, the
A WOMAN attacked a police officer and a custody worker, spitting in the face of one victim. Burnley magistrates heard how Amy Morton, 47, was foul-mouthed and still "playing up" when taken to the police station. There, she spat at a detention officer
FATHER Christmas will be touring the streets of Ramsbottom this month on the Rotary Club's annual festive float. The club's 30 members will be joined by supporters to help with the collection, and all the money raised will go to the club's charity
A WOMAN who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion told her story during a vigil for World Aids Day in Blackburn Cathedral. Catherine Slater, 41, of Bank Top, Blackburn, presented a monologue about living with the virus, which she contracted after
A THIEF was trapped by a police "sting" after breaking into a car officers had left full of items to entice crooks. Burnley magistrates were told that Jason McCourt, 31, went back to the car six times as he stole the large amount of goods in the car.
A PORTRAIT bought with £50,000 of lottery cash gets a fresh unveiling several times an hour - because it is cannot be exposed to light. For the picture of John Towneley, at Towneley Hall, Burnley, has been covered with a curtain for its own protection
The Mall shopping centre in Blackburn was evacuated during a fire drill at about 10am today. However, bosses at the centre said it was just a test to make sure shops were prepared in the event of a real fire.
Burnley's worst fears have materialised with the news that 10-goal striker Andy Gray could be out of action for two months. The results of X-ray scans have confirmed that Gray broke three metatarsals in his right foot during Tuesday night's victory
Residents are being offered a free day pass, worth £10, to a gym facility in exchange for donating a toy to charity. Staff at JJB, Haslingden Road, Lower Audley have started collecting toys for families who use Sure Start centres in the town. Toys
THE fish in Witton Country Park, Blackburn, were moved yesterday so a £27,000 litter trap could be installed. The trap in the River Darwen is the first of its kind in the UK, although similar devices operate on the river Thames and the Tyne, and aims
A BLACKBURN teenager who became the UK's youngest female to be disarmed using a police Taser has had her case adjourned. The 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named by order of a court, was due to be sentenced yesterday, having admitted charges of making
RESIDENTS in Stoneyholme joined forces with Burnley Council's litter team to give their community centre a clean up. As part of the council's six-week Operation Hotspot campaign in Daneshouse and Stoneyholme, residents, litter team members and council
DRIVERS who use hand-held mobile phones while at the wheel have been warned that tougher penalties are around the corner, on the third anniversary of the offence becoming law. The new Road Safety Act means offenders will face having three points put
A HOTEL is hoping to raise £80,000 before Christmas by holding a series of charity nights. The Dunkenhalgh, Clayton-le-Moors, has launched the push in aid of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers. Ivan Lynch, hotel manager, said: "All money raised
ENGLAND roared back into contention in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, finishing the day 266-3. The visitors, who resisted the temptation to include popular spinner Monty Panesar, won the all-important toss and went straight out to bat, knowing a
Pubs boss Margo Grimshaw has applied for permission to add a storey of flats to her Cathedral Court development in Blackburn. She has already received planning permission to knock down Never Never Land, C'est Le Vie, Mr Gs and The Castle in Market
BECOMING one of the top performing specialist schools in the county was one of the achievements applauded at Haslingden High's award evening. Headteacher Eve Challiner paid tribute to the year 11 pupils who contributed to the specialist arts college's
CHORLEY'S goalkeeping crisis is set to reach a new level tomorrow when high-flying Cammell Laird visit Victory Park. The injury-cursed Magpies have already fielded 10 different keepers this season, and that figure is now set to reach 11 with manager
"Rogue trader" Vance Miller was arrested by police after more than 130 officers raided his kitchens business. In the biggest operations carried out by Trading Standards in the UK, four different addresses were raided simultaneously at around 5am on
AN EAST Lancashire paedophile named as one of Britain's most wanted' child sex offenders is still on the run. A nationwide manhunt is continuing for Joshua Karney, who disappeared while on licence after being released from jail to stay at a bail hostel
ONE of East Lancashire's smallest schools is taking on the big boys in the final of a national engineering competition. St Joseph's RC Primary School, Hurst Green, is among a trio of schools from the area competing in the final of the national Primary
