The countdown to Christmas continued in Blackburn yesterday with the switching on of Thwaites' star on the roof of the town centre brewery. The star was turned on by Debra Hurst, whose husband was sales manager at Thwaites until he died of a heart
THE blessing of a Christian nativity scene will help bring a festive spirit and religious tolerance to a town centre, according to its Muslim mayor. Coun Mohamed Rahman, Mayor of Hyndburn, will take part in the annual blessing of the crib ceremony
POLICE have launched a Christmas crackdown on crime in Darwen. Operation Elves will run throughout the festive period, focusing on reducing juvenile nuisance, violence, car crime, burglary and criminal damage. A poster campaign will support the operation
A BUILDING contractor has spoken of his "night from hell" after raiders targeted two of his stores and stole more than £25,000 of equipment. A reward of £1,000 has now been offered to anyone who can help catch the people behind the double burglary.
THE victim of an alleged hit-and-run which shocked a community has relived the moment he almost died. John Hill, 52, of Union House Hotel, Blackburn, was thrown against a wall after he was struck by a stolen silver Vauxhall Vectra which mounted the
Blackburn Rovers Mark Hughes has praised Fulham in the run-up to this afternoon's match at Ewood, and was particularly impressed by their superb 2-1 midweek win over Arsenal. "That was a fantastic result for them and they played exceptionally well,
BLACKBURN ROVERS manager Mark Hughes reckons today's match with Fulham marks the beginning of what could be a defining period in Rovers' season. After this afternoon's date with the Cottagers at Ewood Park, Rovers then face games against Charlton Athletic
STEVE Cotterill has urged Brian Jensen to try and wrestle back Burnley's goalkeeping jersey from Danny Coyne. Coyne returned to action in Tuesday night's 2-1 Championship win over Leeds, following 14 months on the sidelines recovering from a cruciate
ACCRINGTON Stanley will only receive half of the transfer fee should midfielder Ian Craney join Swansea City in January. It is understood Stanley have agreed a £150,000 fee with the Welsh club for the player, but should a deal go through, 50 per cent
STEVE Cotterill has laid down the gauntlet to Clarets teenager Kyle Lafferty in the wake of star striker Andy Gray's injury heartache. Burnley will be without 10-goal marksman Gray for at least two months after he broke three metatarsals in his right
A FATHER-of-four attacked his wife twice after he thought she had carried out their shared fantasy of her having sex with a male prostitute, Burnley magistrates heard. The court was told how self-employed builder Nigel Gregory, 50, slapped and punched
THE director of a popular drama group who nurtured the talents of TV stars John Simm and Lee Ingleby has died at the age of 63. Brian Wellock, of Delamere Road, Harle Syke, who was also head of drama at Edge End High School, Nelson, for 22 years, died
WATER Primary School in Rawtenstall has become the first to benefit from Rossendale Council's new policy of donating spare computer equipment. The Burnley Road East school has been given old monitors, keyboards and hard drives, to be use in its IT room
THE leader of Burnley Council has told bosses at an embattled super school' to "pull their heads out of the sand" before somebody is seriously injured. Coun Gordon Birtwistle was speaking after police were called to reports of a fight between groups
AN 83-year-old woman had her bag snatched in a subway straight after collecting her pension. She had just left Todmorden Road post office, Burnley, and was walking through the subway which runs from Gala Bingo to the bus station at 9.50am on Thursday
A CARER' who attacked his sick wife had verbally and physically abused her virtually from the start of their 34-year marriage, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard that George Greenwood's victim had suffered two heart attacks - and would say after
AN East Lancashire business park could soon have a new landlord after it was put up for auction for at least £400,000. The "freehold commercial ground rent" of Clayton Business Park, Petre Road, Clayton-le-Moors, will auctioned on December 11. This
AN elderly couple claim they are stranded in their home because they are unable to get a wheelchair past a rotting gatepost. Eric Levey, 76, needs the wheelchair to leave his home in Within Grove, Huncoat. But his long-term partner Joan Rydeheard, 64
NOTHING aged about this one - the first 2006 vintage from vineyards in the Casablanca Valley and Alto Cachapoal in the foothills of the Andes in Chile. The Valley provides the 85% Chardonnay while Cachapoal is where the 15% of Viognier grapes are grown
IF a large number of you get together to eat out, it helps if you can book a table, particularly if it's a busy evening. With elderly people in your party, waiting in the crowded bar of a pub or eatery till one comes free, does not really get the night
He's the proud owner of one of the world's biggest collections of ukuleles and even gained his Oxford degree playing the instrument. We took a glimpse into the unusual world of entertainer Andy Eastwood, who plays Wishie Washie in a Blackburn panto this
CASH-STRAPPED hospital bosses have run out of the cash they set aside for wage increases after staff fought and won higher salaries. About 70 staff have won appeals against new pay deals, which were part of the biggest nationwide shake-up of NHS wages
VANDALS have been warned they face prosecution if they do not stop pulling a sign down on a quiet estate. The culprits have been striking in Sandpiper Close, Brookhouse, Blackburn, ripping down a residents-only parking sign. Residents are so proud of
A REVELLER suffered head injuries after allegedly being hit with a bottle in an unprovoked and nasty attack' outside a Blackburn nightclub. Police said the 23-year-old had the bottle smashed across his forehead when he went to assist a friend who had
CHORLEY golf ace Nick Dougherty is continuing to put a poor 2006 season behind him after leading at the midway stage of the New Zealand Open. The 24-year-old fired five birdies in a flawless second round 66 to share the lead at Gulf Harbour Country Club
Roma striker Vincenzo Montella, and Sparta Prague's highly-rated midfielder Tomas Sivok have been linked with moves to Blackburn Rovers - but Mark Hughes is keeping his cards close to his chest. Hughes said: "We're linked with a number of players (
BLACKBURN ROVERS midfielder Steven Reid could be back in action early next month after being given the green light to step up his rehabilitation programme. The Republic of Ireland international has not kicked a ball in anger since damaging his back in
BLACKBURN Rovers Academy coach Gary Bowyer is hoping the club goes all the way in the UEFA Cup this season because it may lead to greater opportunities for some of his best young players. Manager Mark Hughes is well aware that a run in Europe places
BLACKBURN manager Mark Hughes is relishing the chance to take a closer look at Olympiakos striker Yianniakis Okkas. The Cypriot international will spend four days with Rovers later this month after being invited over to England for a trial. And if he
A BLACKBURN school's new look premises were officially launched yesterday. At the end of the summer term Newfield special school said goodbye to 60 years of history and held its final classes at its Roman Road site. Since September the school - which
RESIDENTS and businesses have complained about the number of second-hand cars being sold on a main road in Darwen. Blackburn Road, from Hollins Road to Hollins Grove, has been the scene of second-hand car sales for many weeks. Residents say vehicles
The East Lancashire Children's Audiology Service based at Nelson Health Centre will be moving to modern new facilities at St Peter's Health Centre in Burnley on Wednesday. The service provides diagnosis and management of hearing loss for children
ROSSENDALE will not be bidding to merge with any neighbouring councils, bosses have declared. The vow comes as Burnley and Pendle councils show an interest in merging, and Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn discuss joining up key departments. Ribble
A HUSBAND and wife who have led the churches in Foulridge and Trawden for more than ten years have retired. The Reverend Kath Allen, who led St Michael and All Angels' Church in Foulridge for a decade, and her husband Richard, who led St Mary's Church
CLASSICAL music is to be played outside an Earby shop in a bid to prevent youths congregating. Police Sergeant Andy Cartwright has come up with the idea in a bid to solve the long-running problem of anti-social behaviour outside the Co-op in Victoria
Former Burnley FC boss Stan Ternent, 60, will stand trial at crown court accused of assault causing actual bodily harm. The defendant, of Hollings Farm, Cliviger, who has pleaded not guilty to the allegation, was bailed until January 29, by the town's
RIBBLE Valley Council has published a comprehensive directory listing the borough's sport and leisure facilities. The 2007 Ribble Valley Sports Directory, which will be available from January, provides information on sports and leisure facilities, voluntary
IT'S good to see Morrisons sourcing their own label wine and this belter rightly comes under their silver and black 'The Best' label. The price is a little over the Morrisons average but in this case with good reason. Here's a lovely, smooth,quality
A GROUP of Ribble Valley cricketers have stripped off their whites in bid to raise funds. But players from Longridge Cricket Club made sure to cover their own "middle wickets". The LCCalendar 2007 was prompted by the need for a new pavilion and junior
ONE of the best-known town centre landmarks in East Lancashire is 150 years old. And a weekend of celebrations is being held to mark the anniversary of the opening of Blackburn town hall. The doors of imposing building in King William Street were being
MY nine-year-old son has been bullied for over a year, but nothing seems to be done about it despite going to see the head. Now he is suicidal, I turn to my GP for help. He contacts the head teacher in question who then decides to have a go at my son
IT is with regret that having defied the law and advice from within the party, a local councillor remains a serving member. While no statement has yet been made by the Labour Party other than a promise to investigate this matter, failure to take action
I REFER to the article on page two of the LT (November 10). Personally, I was never keen on the entire Elevate programme, even when it confined its activities to housing. I was even less keen when the entrepreneur Wilson was allowed into the overall
GENERATIONS ago the ordinary people lived in poverty and extreme hardship. In the year 1914 war was declared and the people proud of their heritage vowed to unite and defend the country. The cream of our men and women was lost in the fight and families
AS the proud owner of a battered old Rover with 170,000 miles on the clock, my dream is to go on Pimp My Ride UK. And last night's episode sealed it for me - this may just be the best show ever. Olympic games hopeful Hannah dropped off her 1991
THIS is the shocking moment a thug stabbed an innocent man twice during an unprovoked attack in a town centre bar. Ryan Grimshaw, 24, of Springfield Bank, Burnley, has been jailed for five-and-a-half years following the knifing in Fluidz Bar, Hammerton
