POLICE have moved to reassure residents after seven people were stabbed in a spate of incidents over the weekend in East Lancashire. Three people remain in hospital suffering serious injuries following the incidents, which led to three people being arrested
COUNCIL bosses are to press ahead with plans for a bus lane linking several towns after claiming a survey showed people supported the scheme. They said the independent poll by MORI made it more likely the £50million Pennine Reach scheme would get the
A BURNLEY man seduced and had sex with a 15-year-old girl despite protests from her friend that she was underage, a court heard yesterday. Mushraf Ali, 29, chatted up the youngster while she was walking home with her younger sister, Burnley
TEACHERS at a Darwen school will be seeing triple after triplets and two sets of twins joined the reception class. The siblings make up seven of the 30 children in the class at St Barnabas C of E Primary School, Knowlesley Road. The twins are
THE delayed opening of a new school has been hailed a ‘phenomenal success’ after hundreds of pupils started their classes. Yesterday’s staggered opening saw 400 pupils from years seven and 11 at Pendle Vale College and 60 from Pendle Vale Community High
A THIEF who stole diesel worth £60 in an early hours raid on a works yard was given a two-month curfew by Burnley magistrates. Mark Fleming, 27, of Harold Avenue, had been spotted syphoning fuel from a lorry at 5am at Ryder PLC, on Accrington
A DISABLED teenager who attacked a pregnant care worker at a Burnley residential home is awaiting sentence. The town's magistrates heard how Mohammed Ali, 19, hit Tracey Riley in the side of the neck, possibly with a cup of water. When
Address: Blackburn Road, Accrington. Phone number: 01254 391191 Lancashire Telegraph review by John Anson from September 15, 2008. AS the heavens decided to deposit a month’s worth of rain on Accrington at the weekend, opening the door
A SUMMER crackdown on metal theft has been hailed a success. Following a spate of lead thefts in Blackburn town centre, police diverted one officer on to night time patrols in areas that had been targeted by thieves throughout August. The ground-based
A DAD-to-be who assaulted a police officer called to his home has won his freedom in time to see his child born. Michael Furlong, 40, had been arrested after he struck the officer's left eye and cheek and after making "idle" threats to kill him. The
BLACKBURN parents face fines if their parked cars are a danger to pupils near schools. Police and teachers in Blackburn have joined forces to ensure trips to and from school are as safe as possible. For the next two weeks police will crack down on
DARWEN and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson has slammed Labour party bosses for denying the call for Gordon Brown to face a leadership contest. Mrs Anderson was one of a number of Labour MPs who made the demand ahead of the party’s annual conference
CONSTRUCTION is set to start on a new £500,000 church in the centre of Oswaldtwistle. After more than a decade in the pipeline The Christian Institute, also known as the Melbourne Street Church, has appointed builders to construct the church in Union
GOOD causes across East Lancashire have received thousands of pounds in Lottery grants in a new round of funding announcements. The cash, part of the Awards for All scheme administered by the Big Lottery Fund makes awards of between £300 and £10,000
ONE of two men who raided and ransacked a couple of pensioners' home scattered the spoils over the green at Nelson Golf Club. Burnley Crown Court heard how Matthew Lord, 20, and his accomplices – one of whom was the look-out – had seen their victim leave
A MAN who repeatedly hounded his father even after an injunction was taken out against him, has been jailed for eight months. Nathan Moore, 23, breached the non molestation order a fourth time and had been subject to a community order, imposed
A MAN who had sex with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed. Christopher Raymond Brown, 48, of Burnley Road, Bacup, was told he must serve a minimum of three-and-a-half years in jail after being convicted at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court. He
A PROMOTER is hoping to double her fundraising efforts with a wild-west themed music extravaganza in Pendle. Gemma Taylor, who worked on promotions for concerts with bands like Scissor Sisters, The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things, is hoping
AN INDIE-rock quartet from East Lancashire are on the brink of national glory after making it to the final of the 2008 Surface Unsigned Festival. A New Breed of Monkey, whose members hail from Nelson and Burnley, have beaten off stiff competition, in
A TEENAGE flasher exposed himself to a shocked woman in broad daylight in Burnley town centre. Police said the 47-year-old was followed from the bus station to the Swinton building society, Grimshaw Street, by the boy. But as she reached the branch
Manchester United loanee Danny Simpson was handed his first Blackburn Rovers’ Premier League start at right back, while former MK Dons man Keith Andrews started in the heart of midfield for the first time. Both had their hands full, with Theo
A NEW £5million project to improve the railway line between Blackburn and Clitheroe has been announced. And passengers are being warned that at as result no services will run between the two towns from November 8 to November 26. Bus
A MOTHER has blasted health chiefs after she was told there was nothing wrong with her five-year-old daughter – when she was diagnosed with meningitis days later. Angry Joanna Chadwick, 38, contacted out-of-hours health services as she was
AN INNOVATIVE artist who fuses graffiti with Islamic script will paint his trademark spiritual murals on Burnley walls. Birmingham-based Mohammed Ali, who has just returned from working in Toronto, Canada, is spend-ing three days in Burnley as part
A 25-year-old woman who had been drinking “everything under the sun” had no recollection of punching a girl in the toilets of a Blackburn nightclub. Blackburn magistrates heard that Emma Adelaide Hickmott had borrowed make-up and a brush off the girl
OWEN Coyle revealed his delight that Burnley’s first league win of the season was recorded at what he believes will be one of the toughest venues in the Championship. Two goals from Graham Alexander were enough to end an agonising wait for three points
A SHRINE to a man killed in a car crash will be moved after action by council bosses. Tributes to Derek Maxwell have been left close to Haslingden’s war memorial in recent weeks after the 36-year-old died in a smash in Scotland. Mr Maxwell, of Hillside
WORRIED residents have called a public meeting as their fight against a care home for problem teenagers continues. At least 50 people living close to the Hollies, in Rising Bridge Road, Haslingden, have united to oppose the opening of a facility
PENDLE’S annual Canal Festival marked the grand opening of Reedley Marina at the weekend Tourism bosses hope the new facility, part of the £3million canal corridor project, will lure thousands of visitors to Pendle and boost the economy. Hundreds of
A 24-YEAR-OLD Clitheroe man took a friend’s car and crashed it while his mate was sleeping. Blackburn magistrates heard that Thomas Pickering parked the write off in a back alley and returned the keys to where his friend had left them but he
A GOOD Samaritan was the victim of a car jacking after he offered to help three men trying to jump-start a car in the early hours, a court heard. Andrew Wilkinson, 42, didn’t know the Volkswagen Sirocco Bradley Duke, Lee Foster, both 20, and Aaron George
Towneley Heritage and Woodland Day proved to be a great family day out yesterday. Among the attractions were woodland crafts and displays, English Civil War re-enactment, face painting, birds of prey and box making, story telling, traditional
A COMMITTEE member of a working men’s club was left with a broken foot after being attacked by two men in the toilets. Police have appealed for witnesses after the 38-year-old man went into the toilets of the club, in Rossendale Road, Burnley
ROVERS boss Paul Ince insists any suggestions of panic are premature after watching his side concede four for the second game in succession. Emmanuel Adebayor’s hat-trick condemned Rovers to another weekend of misery but Ince was determined
A NATIONAL advertising agency is set to launch a huge publicity drive for the charity set up in the name of a murdered East Lancashire teenager. Propaganda, a Leeds-based ad firm, is set to launch a string of media promotions in November after agreeing
SEVERAL East Lancashire MPs, including a former Labour minister, have demanded Gordon Brown face a leadership contest. Janet Anderson, member for Rossendale and Darwen, is one of a clutch of MPs asking for leadership nomination forms before
A MAN was attacked as he made his way home and police are appealing for information from anybody who may have seen the assault at around 9.20pm on Thursday in Cloisters Drive, Darwen. The victim was walking home when he was approached by two
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a fire broke out in a nightclub early this morning. Firefighters said the roof of the Good Night Club, Stanley, Street, Nelson, was described as “well alight” after the fire started at 4.30am. Fire crews used
A WATERFOOT office building was flooded by office sprinklers after a small fire at a footwear business in Lench Road around 12.45am yesterday. A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman said a small fire, believed to have been started deliberately, was
FOUR children stuck in a lift in Bacup were freed by firefighters around 1.20pm yesterday. They were released from the lift at a new community centre, off Burnley Road, after around 30 minutes.
MORE than 100 suspected criminals have been arrested in less than two months of a massive crackdown. Police in Burnley and Pendle launched Operation Fugo at the beginning of last month with a brief to wage war on ‘serious acquisitive crime’ such as burglaries
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman praised his players after snatching a late equaliser against Notts County on Saturday. Sean Canham capitalised on Peter Cavanagh's error to give County the lead two minutes from time. But, in stoppage
A MAN whose jaw was broken in three places by nightclub thugs is still unable to eat solid foods three weeks after the attack. Gareth Fitzsimmons had been using a games machine in Liquid nightclub, Blackburn, on which players pay £1 to thump a punch
A WOMAN was last night being quizzed by detectives on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed at a home in Bacup. Ambulance crews were called out police to the property in New Lane at around 10pm on Saturday. A 49-year-old
HAVING travelled to Switzerland and Austria for the last three years for my holidays, I don’t know what those people think when they come to England. As soon as you get through Belgium and see the beautiful countryside and their cities, what a big difference
A FEMALE driver was taken to hospital after she swerved and her car flipped on to its side. The 20-year-old woman was driving her Ford Focus along the A682 from Gisburn to Helifield on Saturday evening when the accident happened. She was taken to
DESPITE Jack Straw’s boasting of improved results in the SATS figures published for Blackburn with Darwen (along with those of Coun Thayne), a study by the campaign group ‘End Child Poverty’ shows that only 31.4 per cent of children from poor families
A PET sanctuary is appealing for people to provide good homes for rescued animals as it nears breaking point. The RSPCA animal shelter in Altham currently has around 60 dogs in its kennels and is having to turn animals away because there is just nowhere
BLACKBURN College has been recognised with a Beacon Award for its excellence in teaching and learning. The prestigious award has only been presented to 14 colleges this year and Blackburn is one of just five in the North West to achieve it. The Beacon
I HAVE written many times in this column about how wildlife has been able to cope so well in the face of industry and especially quarries. This week I visited the Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum about three miles from Keswick on the A66. I decided
I REFER to your article What a Let Off (LT, September 3) re the thief who stole £7,000 but was not sent to jail. There should be a means whereby the public can register a vote of no confidence in someone whose administration of justice is so radically
NELSON came from behind twice before conceding defeat in a fast-paced game at Victoria Park. Alsager took a shock lead after four minutes when Louis James found the top corner with a 25-yard shot out of the blue. But Nelson stormed back with some great
Padiham were involved in another high-scoring game at the Arbories – but ended up on the wrong side. Two goals from Paul Barrett for Padiham and a goal apiece for Leigh Skellern and Russell Dematteo left the half-time score at 2-2. Ben Wharton put Padiham
The spoils were shared in a well-contested and entertaining match at Witton Albion’s Wincham Park. Runcorn took the lead through Steve Pickup, but Rammy equalised when Matt Edgington’s cross was handled in the box, and Tom Ruttle scored the spot-kick
Colne travelled to the oldest football club in the world – and they could not have hoped for a better start in this first qualifying round of the FA Cup. After just five minutes, Stevie Hall released Ted Cockett down the right but just as Liam Garbutt
Darwen gained their first league victory of the season in an eventful game at New Sirs against eight-man Daisy Hill – who had won all their previous league matches this season. Daisy Hill took the lead on six minutes. But the Salmoners levelled on 23
CLITHEROE were forced into a share of the spoils as they drew with Leek Town in a good FA Cup first qualifying tie at Shawbridge – with the replay now taking place tomorrow night. The Blues had good early chances for Anthony Johnson and Carl Lomax, who
PHIL Eastwood bagged a brace as Rossendale booked their place in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup – following a fine display against Woodley Sports. John Turner also hit the target for the Stags.
BACUP manager Brent Peters hailed his FA Cup heroes after they produced one of the shocks of the round. Borough produced a great display at West View to beat UniBond Premier Division outfit Cammell Laird 3-0 in the first qualifying round of the competition
SHOWMANSHIP is an art form and one man who has perfected the craft delighted the audience at King George’s Hall. Marc Almond provided one of the most enjoyable 90 minutes I’ve spent in a concert hall for some time. It’s amazing to think
HYNDBURN residents will be given the chance to have their say about their quality of life. Hyndburn Council and Lancashire County Council are undertaking the most comprehensive survey yet of residents’ views on the quality of life in the borough. Around
THIS is the first glimpse of a new glass walkway being installed as part of a £3.2m castle renovation. Foundations of the walkway, which will link the Norman keep with other buildings on the site, were shown to former Lancashire High Sheriff Peter Robinson
CHORLEY tail-enders Chris Maguire and Keiron McCullogh can expect a couple of bottles of champagne from Netherfield after they held on for a draw at Blackpool to hand the Cumbrians the Northern Premier Cricket League title. It was desperate stuff at
DRAWS are not something the Stanley faithful are used to. It’s been 26 games since John Coleman’s side played out a stalemate and that was back in January in the 3-3 draw against Chester. But that was until they came up against Ian McParland
A WOMAN received a knife wound to her bottom during a domestic incident at a house in Great Harwood. Police were called to the address in St Hurberts Road at around 4.20am yesterday. The woman sustained a cut and is hospital undergoing treatment
TRADING Standards bosses have warned householders to be on their guard after reports of potentially-bogus charity clothes collections. Leaflets have been posted through doors telling people to put out unwanted clothing or other items on a particular
GRAHAM Alexander played down a match-winning performance, insisting it was a team effort that inspired Burnley’s first Championship win of the season. The Scotland defender scored a stunning free kick and an unstoppable penalty at Nottingham
A FRUSTRATED Ryan Nelsen has called for a return to the old days after admitting the new-look Rovers have become too cavalier. Blackburn’s skipper insists Saturday’s 4-0 Arsenal drubbing was rough justice on Paul Ince’s men but has now urged
A COMMUNITY and business centre is offering fledgling entrepreneurs a helping hand in order to get their companies up and running. The early stages of any business can be a precarious time and the Rainhall Centre, Rainhall Road, Barnoldswick, has come
THE death of soldier Jason Rawstron, killed in action in Afghanistan, once again highlights the dangers faced on a daily basis by the young men and women from East Lancashire who have signed up to serve their country. For his family, Jason’s death is
MY children couldn’t contain themselves. They jumped for joy and squealed with delight. Well, they have waited quite a few years for a television. Not that we’ve gone without – that would be unthinkable – but for as long as they can remember we have
THE driver of a car that crashed into a bridge was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after providing a positive breath sample. The driver had to be removed from his blue Ford Escort after it collided with the bridge in Clitheroe Road at 1.30am
AN ORCHARD in Turton will be given over to the community at an official ceremony tomorrow after two years of campaigning. Blackrock Orchard, off Bolton Road, has been created from a former paddock after fears the land could be used for development.
TOMMY DOLAN was probably the keenest fan Darwen Cricket Club has ever had. He didn’t miss many matches and he never missed an opportunity to offer critical comment. One rather ponderous opener was told he should try using a back door instead of a bat
A MAN needed stitches to a knife wound after being stabbed in the chest at a house party in Oswaldtwistle. Emergency services were called to a house in Cherry Crescent at 10am on Saturday after reports a 26-year-old man had been stabbed. He was
A UNIQUE interpretation of the War of the Roses was enacted at the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships. Contestants hurled traditional Lancashire black puddings at stacks of Yorkshire puddings piled on a 20ft platform in a bid to dislodge
GIVING stuff away free is a good way to get people to like your music. Thankfully this The Pains of Being Pure at Heart single isn't just free – it's also very good. Twee C86 harmonies mix with Jesus and Mary Chain guitar fuzz to give
THE twisted world of folk music has sucked in Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble. Drever, McCusker and Woomble met through collaborations with the angelic folk superstar Kate Rusby, and in the best collaborative traditions of folk decided to make
SOME things are just wrong. Any CD with the name Queen in the title that doesn’t feature the amazing vocal talents of one Freddie Mercury is one of them. It’s not the bloke from Free’s fault, Mercury was unique, a once-in-a-lifetime performer,
A HEARTBROKEN brother has paid an emotional tribute to an East Lancashire man who has died aged 36. And Donnie Demetriou said Nick Rushton, who was from the Rossendale area, may have taken his own life because he never recovered from the brutal
AN East Lancashire soldier, described as “one of the army’s finest”, has been shot dead in battle in Afghanistan. Private Jason Rawstron, from Clayton-le-Moors, was killed by a Taliban gunman on Friday morning whilst on duty in Helmand province
