A DAD who turned his son into police after finding bullets in his bedroom says he has no regrets despite the teenager facing five years in jail. Paul Metcalfe, 19, was arrested by armed officers when his father Neil called 999 and told operators he had
A MAJOR crackdown on loan sharks is to be launched in Lancashire in the coming weeks. Trading standards bosses say desperate, hard-up people are being held to ransom by illegal money-lenders and often assaulted if they cannot keep up repayments.
FAMILIES fled from three terrace houses after a home was torched - two weeks after a drugs raid against organised criminals. Flames ripped through the roof of the end terrace and neighbouring property and two more homes were filled with smoke. No one
The Bengal Tiffin takeaway on Manchester Rd Haslingden is the first winner of the Recipe 4 Health Award set up by Rossendale Council and Lancashire County Council Trading Standards to promote healthy eating.
VILLAGERS have voiced their concern at proposals by telecoms giant BT to remove their only telephone kiosk. People living in Salterforth, near Barnoldswick, regularly use the call box, as mobile phone links in the area are patchy. But British Telecom
A DRINK-driver stopped by police while more than twice over the limit had a child in the car with him. Stephen McIlmoyle, 34, had been taking his son home from a barbecue when he was pulled over by police. Burnley magistrates court heard that McIlmoyle
A WOMAN who left her husband in fear as she shouted and screamed while her four children were in bed was arrested by police. Police were called to Jane Shepherd's home in the early hours by her husband. The 33-year-old was found aggressive and shouting
A BREWERY in Burnley is bidding to take on the brawn of Budweiser and the cunning of Coors with the might of the Pendle Witches. Real ale kings Moorhouse's is launching an assault on the American market, usually more famed for its lagers and bourbons
A MEDICAL student who was found dead after apparently falling from a university building was subjected to racist bullying by a lecturer, his family has told an inquest. Amir Mahmood, 25, of Victoria Drive, Haslingden, suffered multiple injuries after
A CHARITY-run £1million rehabilitation unit for drink and drug abusers has opened its doors - and is already looking at more ways to help its residents. Organisers of THOMAS - Those on the Margins of Society - are hoping to set up an academy that would
A LEADING property developer has announced that its construction firm has been placed into administration. Hurstwood Construction, part of Haslingden-based Hurstwood Group, has been placed in the hands of administrators and it is understood that up
BROWNIES in Edenfield are hunting for a new leader as the current Brown Owl prepares to hang up her uniform after 11 years in the role. The 20th Rossendale pack needs a new leader to fill the shoes of Julie Butterworth, who is to step down in July due
TALK about tough love. Layabout ex-Corrie star Bruce Jones burst into tears on Celebrity Wife Swap after a week living with singer Sinitta. Bruce told Sinitta last night: "I've took my wife and kids for granted. It's took you coming here to teach me
Rishton Utd JFC are holding their end of season presentation, at the Conservative Club, Rishton. Doors open at 10.30 am.
THEY say the pen is mightier than the sword, but is it mightier than a truncheon? Belthorn-born author Nick Oldham thinks so. After 30 years' service as a police officer with Lancashire Constabulary, Nick turned his hand to writing and has forged a
The clubs end of season presentation take place on the 7th June at Rishton's Conservative Club. Doors open at 10.15 am.
A 'DANGEROUS' embankment at a popular wood is to get a safety fence after cars and an elderly woman fell down it. The drop, by the entrance to Sunnyhurst Wood off Earnsdale Road, is used by walkers, workmen with vans and disabled visitors in cars. It
AN attacker who left his victim with an eye injury is awaiting sentence at Preston Crown Court. Burnley Crown Court heard how Gino Taylor's victim Stephen Rothwell had to have a temporary tear duct fitted to his left eye after the assault. The case
A PIECE of Burnley's footballing history is to go under the hammer. The shirt worn by Billy Morris in the 1947 FA Cup Final, which the Clarets lost 1-0 to Charlton Athletic in extra-time, could fetch £800 when it goes up for auction at Bonhams on Wednesday
SPORTING heroes and community champions have been recognised for their efforts. The 2008 Ribble Valley Sports and Community Awards, which were hosted by Ribble Valley Council at the Grand, Clitheroe, saw the borough's dedicated sports people rewarded
AN 89-year-old woman died after falling out of bed in hospital and suffering a fractured hip. An inquest heard that Alice Pilkington had been admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from nausea and a sore leg. She was kept in for tests but the
MANY of Blackburn Rovers' star players have headed for the beach after a long and gurelling Premier League season - and the Ewood Park pitch looks like one at the moment. But although it may resemble the Sahara Desert right now, Blackburn Rovers are
THE Olympic Games in 2012 is going to be the biggest event to hit Britain since the football World Cup in 1966. With it will come an estimated £2billion boost to the nation's tourism economy. But when you think that the Games are costing this country
AN outhouse and terrace house in Garnett Street, Darwen, were damaged by fire which is believed to have been started deliberately. Firefighters were called to the property just before 6pm Saturday, and found the wooden outhouse attached to the kitchen
MY first job was a paper round. It was really my brother's paper round but quite often he couldn't be bothered so I lent a hand. It was a long trek, more than two miles, taking in two villages, and a bit of an ordeal straight after a hard day at school
I KNOW we're all supposed to love Pushing Daisies - the new Anna Friel vehicle that has made her a gigantic super-duper star in the states. And I feel almost churlish for even bringing it up. But isn't it incredibly annoying? The story set around the
BARNOLDSWICK'S community cinema has received a huge cash boost - but it may mean rethinking the original plans. Pendle Council's West Craven Committee has pledged £30,000 towards the provision of a community cinema at the Rainhall Centre. The money
MANY times over the years I have described my strolls around Towneley Park. I was delighted when I heard that a £2.1million lottery grant had been made available to fund improvements. The wildlife has always been one of my very favourite places of
ALTHOUGH I do not fish anymore I have never lost my love of sitting on the banks of our local rivers. Now that most watercourses in Britain are free from pollution, more and more salon are spreading into former spawning grounds. At one time salmon were
BURNLEY'S assistant manager Sandy Stewart says the Clarets will leave no stone unturned in their search for new players. The Turf Moor outfit have been busy trying to rebuild their squad in the close season with bids having been turned down for Scunthorpe's
BLACKBURN Rovers have given Manchester City permission to speak to Mark Hughes about the vacant manager's post at Eastlands, subject to the Blues meeting certain conditions. City made a formal approach for Hughes following the sacking of Sven Goran
A PROJECT manager of a £3million Blackburn housing estate which has failed to sell has admitted he is "surprised" it is still empty. The 20-house block in Hamilton Street, in the Infirmary area, is surrounded in barbed wire more than a year after it
A defiant last-wicket stand guided Lancaster through the final five overs at Windsor Park to thwart revitalised Chorley's bid for a fourth straight win in the Northern League. Talented young opening bat Josh Tolley added another 76 to his two impressive
A BURGLAR was shopped by his own brother after "friends" of the victim bundled him into the back of a van and took him away. Blackburn magistrates heard the brother was concerned for Michael Mullin's safety and police later found him at the premises
The third day of the LV County Championship clash between Roses rivals Yorkshire and Lancashire was washed out at 3pm after persistent rain refused to clear at Headingley. Umpires John Steele and Peter Willey immediately called off the morning session
NICK Dougherty has kept himself in eighth in the European Ryder Cup rankings after a strong showing in the Celtic Manor Welsh Open. The Chorley golfer finished a creditable sixth after a birdie-eagle finish for a 68, which left him 13-under for the tournament
A MAN who is alleged to have falsely claimed his ex-boyfriend had child pornography on his computer denied perverting the course of justice today. Andrew Collis, 41, told police that Damian Marsh had indecent images of children on his computer on January
THE production line from John Brannan's native Jersey has never been at full throttle. In fact, not since the days of Graeme Le Saux and Guernsey-born Matthew Le Tissier have the Premier League and the Channel Islands as a whole been named in the same
THE Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, led an open air Songs of Praise with the Salvation Army Band to mark the centenary of St Stephen's Church in Little Harwood. The church combined its 100th birthday celebrations with a community fun
THE recent 10p tax U-turn by the Government, which will theoretically give 20 million people about £150 of their tax bill back, reminds me of the classic magician's trick where he distracts the audience by waving money in his right hand, while he deftly
RECENT research from Help the Aged shows that many people are worried about how society is going to treat them once they turn 65. Older people are too often dismissed by the rest of society and are frequently the butt of jokes and disparaging remarks
JOURNALIST Brian Caven, former editorial director of Citizen Newspapers and Head of IT for Newsquest in Lancashire, has died aged 64. Mr Caven, who was semi-retired, lived in Lammack Road, Blackburn, but had been staying with his daughter Alison at her
LIKE many people in the UK, I am horrified at the position we find ourselves in reference to the so-called credit crunch. Some immutable facts need to be examined about the disgraceful behaviour of the British banks. The excuses we are given for this
I WAS re-reading Oscar Wilde's Ballad of Reading Gaol the other day and came across his description of the sky as "that little tent of blue". It got me thinking about all the little patches of green that used to dot the town - the manicured bowling greens
A FORMER offender is going into schools to urge young people to keep away from crime as part of a new police scheme. Police in Hyndburn have launched the multi-agency initiative to improve relations with young people, focusing on those involved in anti-social
DEFENDING 20/20 champions Enfield got the defence of their crown off to a losing start with a five-wicket defeat by Rishton. The champions made 130 for 9 thanks to Adam Bracewell's 55. Rishton pro Saeed Anwar and Shaun Hutchinson both picked up three
ACCRINGTON edged past Enfield by just one run on Saturday to book their place in the Worsley Cup semi-final for the first time since 1989. The hosts appeared to be struggling early on when they were 12-3. But Graeme Sneddon (31), Toby Bullock (32),
STUART Maher returned figures of 7-45 as Veka Ribblesdale Senior League leaders Great Harwood wrapped up a convincing victory over Settle. Maher's haul helped bowl out the home side for just 99. And thanks to an unbeaten 36 from professional Syed Shahabuddin
A 'NUISANCE book' from Victorian times has given a fascinating insight into life in East Lancashire 150 years ago. It has gone on display at Great Harwood Library as part of Community History Month. The nuisance book comes from a time before the area
A 41-YEAR-old man escaped from a first floor window when his living room went up in smoke. The man, who had been upstairs, smashed a window with a portable heater and climbed onto a flat roof before jumping down. Two fire crews from Nelson and one from
BEST known as latter-day bassist and vocalist with The Yardbirds, John Idan has probably done enough in music to be allowed to indulge himself and release a solo album. Clearly a hugely talented musician — he plays everything on the album bar
EMOTIONALLY charged indie music sells well, but humming along to Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars can gather dirty looks in certain company. The awkwardly named {Satellite-State} make such music, and although they're slightly edgier than Snow Patrol
A LOVELY ten track sampler from independent Salford label The Lab. Whether its the fuzzy indie highs of Snowden or the alt-country of The Wooden Sky, The Lab seem to have scoured the world to find a satisfying and eclectic range of new music. And like
A TEENAGER has been honoured for her amazing fighting spirit at a star-studded event. The achievements of cystic fibrosis sufferer Caroline Shorthouse, 16, were last night celebrated when the ceremony was broadcast on satellite television channel Sky
