A FATHER-of-three is fighting for life after he had his head stamped on outside a Colne church. Paving contractor Edward Geddes, 29, was left covered in blood after being attacked by a gang of four outside St Bartholomew's Church in the early hours of
A PLAN to increase the number of community police stations in Lancashire has been announced. Lancashire Constabulary is planning to extend its network of police bases across the county - from the current 40 to 70. Police said the move allows officers
A BANNED driver whose lies to police meant an innocent man landed in court has been jailed for eight months. Burnley Crown Court heard Sabar Hussain, 27, gave a false name because he was the subject of a suspended jail term. The court was told Hussain
A MINI market has been closed down by environmental health inspectors after they found a 'serious infestation of rats'. The inspectors said the infestation, at Bastwell Foods, Plane Street, Blackburn, was the worst they had ever come across. They told
PARENTS are being urged to keep their drinks cabinets under lock and key after a month-long crackdown on under-age tipplers. Police teams across Nelson, Colne and West Craven seized more than 100 litres of beer, wines and spirits after conducting a series
FOUR new workers are set to join Engage, the team set up to tackle child sexual exploitation in Blackburn. The team of officers has been formed by the police, council, the Blackburn with Darwen Safeguarding Children Board and other young people's organisations
THIEVES have been accused of "stealing a town's heritage" after a series of raids of valuable stone edifices in Colne. Police are investigating a number of thefts of stone mountings, from the top of gate posts, along Langroyd Road in the past week.
A PERVERT who spied on a schoolgirl undressing at a Burnley leisure centre has been caught growing cannabis at his home. George Burrows, 23, was found to have 29 plants on the go at his flat in Brierfield when police searched it on March 28, Burnley
A MAN who breached a community order for a second time was given another one by Burnley magistrates. The court was told how Nisar Shah, 21, was given the first order in March last year, but had not contacted the probation office since last November.
A NANNY accused of murdering the 13-month-old baby son of two Lancashire police officers has had her charge reduced to manslaughter. Isaac Rowlinson, the son of Det Insp Paul Rowlinson and PC Lisa Rowlinson, died on July 23. Linda Wise, 46, of Gaerwen
CALLS are growing for a memorial to Tommy Ball - but council bosses are cool on the idea. The pioneering shoe king died on Sunday on the Isle of Man, aged 83. Tributes to Mr Ball have poured in, with well-wishers leaving messages on the Lancashire Telegraph
A PROPERTY expert has warned that house prices in East Lancashire could fall by as much as 10 per cent over the next year. The latest Land Registry figures for the area - for the three months up to last December - show that average house prices in half
A MAN believed to have been thrown out of his car by the impact of a head-on smash has been released from hospital. The 25-year-old, from Accrington, was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from lacerations and a head injury after his red Volkswagen
A REBEL landlord will appear in court next week to begin his challenge over a conviction for allowing customers to smoke. Nick Hogan, of Summerseat, Rossendale, is due at Bolton Crown Court on Friday to fix a date for an appeal hearing. He was found
BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw has entered the row over pay cuts for town hall workers and said low-paid staff had been left "humiliated". But now the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has slammed the comments as he said Mr Straw's government had passed
A THIEF with more than 100 convictions stole razor blades from Boots but was not back to his old tricks, a court heard. Burnley magistrates were told how Roy Taylor, 38, was fighting his former heroin habit and went out stealing because his benefits
A DRUNKEN burglar who raided his friend's house has been jailed for 19 months. Steven Bradshaw, 32, had forced his way into the victim's home while he was on holiday and stole two plasma screen televisions, Burnley Crown Court heard. Bradshaw, who struck
MORE than a third of workers at a Darwen recycling plant face losing their jobs because waste is to be sent to Birmingham instead. Bosses at Greenstar Recycling, Railway Road, told the 23 workers up to nine jobs could be axed in the next few weeks.
PENDLE Council has been praised highly for providing value for money services, in the latest report from the Audit Commission. Chief executive Stephen Barnes said he was delighted with the findings of the independent national body which looked at how
OUR 1-1 draw at the weekend against Leeds could have created a little bit of history. Tom Hutchison came on and got the goal for us and he's only 15-years-old, making him, I believe, our youngest ever scorer. In our Under 18 league, teams can play three
A BLACKBURN firm is offering a chauffeur-driven wedding day ride fit for the Bride of Dracula. Pedestrians and motorists have been doing double takes when they see the latest addition to the roads - a black hearse which can be seen filled with prom-goers
A MAN previously in charge of 900 pubs has taken over as managing director at Thwaites brewery. Peter Morris has joined the Blackburn brewer after a highly-successful career in the British brewing industry. He started almost three decades ago as a trainee
If you have any issues you want the neighbourhood policing team to deal with, get down to the Bank Top Community Centre at 5pm this evening. PCSO Seppo Murphy and PC Iain Czapowski will be there to listen to all your concerns. Check back for details
Entries are are now being taken for the Bob Birds Chippy mixed doubles bowling competition. This is taking place on Sunday April 27th starting at 10am. If you're interested, it will be held at Lowerhouse Bowling Green, Lowerhouse Lane. The entry
BUS users are finding it easier to access services and are taking more journeys by bus, according to a report by Lancashire County Council. The council topped national performance tables earlier this year, receiving the top four out of four rating from
STUDENTS at St Wilfrid's CE High School and Technology College in Blackburn are proud to be part of a "harmonious school community", according to Government inspectors. Ofsted has rated the Duckworth Street school as "good with outstanding features".
... then this is for you. A five-week course on Holiday French (not ten as previously stated) will run in Worsthorne Reading Rooms on Tuesdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm commencing on the 29th April. You can get more information from Karen/Lancashire
You may already know of the proposed plans to sell the Methodist Church on Station Road, with reasons given for this ranging from disreapir to poor attendances. I spoke with PCSO Paul Crossland who is part of your neighbourhood policing team for Huncoat
COMMUTERS are being urged to back a petition calling for rail services to extend to Ramsbottom and beyond. MP David Chaytor is calling for a mainstream service running from Rossendale to Manchester on the East Lancashire Railway. "We need to relieve
NEIGHBOURS flew flags from their windows to welcome a Duke of Lancaster soldier home from Afghanistan. Cpl Daniel Riley, 23, who has just spent six months working with the Afghan army in the war-torn Helmand province, returned home to find Bentley
There will be a very unique exhibition at Barrowford Library this month, which I highly suggest you seek out. Local artists Pat Horkin and Sandra Jenkins, have put together a collection of figurative, abstract and native North American artwork.
A MAN who tried to strangle his girlfriend when he was drunk has been told he is facing a custodial sentence. Burnley Magistrates heard how Darren John Noone, 33, kicked victim Sarah Kershaw and then attempted to throttle her while on bail for the first
LAND which the multi-million pound Darwen Academy will be built on could hold vital pieces of the town's history, according to a councillor. After investigations into the background of the Redearth Triangle, Coun Simon Huggill believes there could be
A GROUNDBREAKING scheme to tackle terrorism is being rolled out across East Lancashire school, colleges and community groups. Lancashire Constabulary's counter terrorism exercise ACT (All Communities Together) Now was piloted last year. The scheme gives
CAMPAIGNERS who fought plans to shut 24 East Lancashire post offices have spoken of their anger after learning their efforts were in vain. Disgruntled residents hit out at those behind the six week consultation after it was announced on Tuesday that
Well the Celtic Vibes night went down a treat! Landlord of the Railway Hotel, Keith Bateson, had a quick chat with me today and this is what he had to say: "It was a fantastic night, and very well attended. "We had 80-100 people turn up, which
All of Mellor's residents are welcome to attend the public session of the next Parish Council meeting. Bit late notice I'm afraid, but it's happening tomorrow night, Thursday April 3, starting at 7pm. If there are any aspects of village life that
A BURGLAR who struck for the third time - and whilst the subject of a suspended jail term - is behind bars for a total of 33 months. Burnley Crown Court heard John Foreman, 19, had earlier been spared immediate jail for two house break-ins, one where
A MEMORIAL football match is taking place for a former Darwen teenager killed in road accident. Craig Cronshaw, 18, died and two of his passengers were injured when his Citroën Saxo lost control in Stacksteads, crashing into a wall, at 5.20am on December
I visited Burnley Wood this week for the first time since before Christmas. I had arranged to meet with your neighbourhood policing team but I arrived a bit early so took a drive round the area. I pulled up on Oxford Road, opposite the church, and
HOSPICE facilities will be able to expand even further thanks to its new-found independence from the NHS. Trustees at the East Lancashire Hospice said independence from the primary care trust would bring it into line with 98 per cent of the UK's adult
CHORLEY manager Tony Hesketh has dedicated tonight's Trophy final against Southport to former Magpies boss Gerry Luczka. Hesketh, who has been in charge at Victory Park for 12 games, took over from Luczka at the start of February and guided them to a
This free event starts on Tuesday 8th April, 10.00am - 11.00am, for 4 weeks at Great Harwood Christian Fellowship Church. It can be attended by children aged 1-4 years with their parents and carers. This is a free, fun activity for children and
A TELEPHONE hotline has been set up to help Lancashire adults at risk of abuse or neglect. Lancashire County Council's Safeguarding Adults agenda, launched today, will allow anyone to call the council or fill in an online alert form to report suspected
A BLACKBURN man molested a woman on a crowded train in front of her child. A court heard that Mohammed Ishfaq was so drunk that afterwards he could not remember what happened. Ishfaq, 37, of Winmarleigh Street, Blackburn, was placed on supervision and
CONCERN has arisen as to the pending demolition of the property erroneously referred to as the former Police Station on King Street, directly facing Montague Street for the extension of Blackburn's inner ring road. As to it being preserved - why bother
RE pensioners and their money. It is another situation that will never be got to the bottom of. A lot of pensioners could do with a lot more, and others, what they get is just pin money. Family allowance is just the same. If you give £500 a week to
OVER the last few weeks OAPs have taken a bashing pertaining to their state benefit and what they receive. In order to receive full pension, one must have paid 47 years of national insurance, 44 years for a woman. These people have been fully employed
A MAN who argued with his partner's daughter pinned her to the ground by her arms and slapped her across the face. Hyndburn magistrates heard that Karl Graham Leach went into the kitchen to calm himself but then ran into the living room and launched
ONE of East Lancashire's best known classical singers has spoken of her shock after her father collapsed at a farewell concert. Mezzo soprano Sue Moretta is moving to Spain but before she left she held a performance at St Mary's RC Church, Clayton-le-Moors
BLACKBURN Rovers chairman John Williams insists David Bentley is staying put despite national newspaper reports linking the midfield star with a move away from Ewood Park this summer. Bentley - who is contracted to the club until 2011 - is currently
ASA Hartford is set to become Reserve team manager at Accrington Stanley. It is understood the Scottish legend and former Blackburn Rovers coach will join the Reds after ironing out financial matters with previous club Macclesfield Town, where he was
TWO men from the same family are due in court today charged with conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles. Patrick Maughan, 45, from Richmond Avenue, Accrington and 23-year-old Martin Maughan, from Barnes Street, Church, were both arrested after a series
Not the best week for the Saints but we can only get better! Under 13's. Clitheroe Wolves 6 Padiham Saints 3. Goal scorers Philip Eidson 2, Lewis Turner 1. Man of the match went to Liam Fletcher. An undeserved loss for the Saints who kept Clitheroe
Do you have a problem that the police can help you with? Do you want to keep informed about what has been happening in the local area? If so, come along to the Hoddlesden PACT at the Hoddlesden Community Centre, this Saturday 5 April at 9.30pm.
Blackburn have denied a Football Association misconduct charge of failing to control their players and officials. The club were charged last month after an incident involving Morten Gamst Pedersen and Newcastle's Habib Beye on March 1. A hearing will
