A RAMSBOTTOM pensioner is cleaning up the town on his own after losing patience with his town council. Jim Needham, a semi-retired window cleaner, is sweeping the streets every day to protest against the state of the town. The 66-year-old
AN ANIMAL Sanctuary say they are being repeatedly targeted by criminals with incidents at the site escalating since last year. Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Bury Old Road, Edenfield have spent several thousand pounds on the installation of security
A HOUSE overlooking a busy road is on the verge of collapsing after a large crack opened up in the wall. Sections of Olive Lane and Anyon Street have been fenced off and temporary traffic lights put in place to protect passers-by after part
IN the final chapter of our three-part series on Willie Irvine, the Turf Moor great tells of the time he realised his dream of playing for Burnley when making his first-team debut against Arsenal at Highbury in May 1963, as a young 20-year-old
A PENDLE town has been boosted after a business relocated from West Yorkshire and pledged to create more jobs. The Envelope Works has switched operations from Halifax to the West Craven business park after securing new £1million premises. The move will
AN ‘INSPIRATIONAL’ community worker has died aged 24 after undergoing a 53rd operation on chronic heart and bowel problems. Shaun Haggart, who was known as ‘Little Shaun’, was born with Hirschsprung’s disease, a genetic disorder of the colon
TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'caring family man' who died in a head-on motorbike crash at the weekend. Nick Cowell died instantly when his Honda bike collided with another motorcycle on a popular route in the Yorkshire Dales on Sunday.
NETWORK Rail has failed in an Appeal Court bid to reduce a £667,666 fine imposed after two railwaymen were struck and killed by a "JCB on rails". David Pennington, 45, a father-of-five from Cog Lane, Burnley and Martin Oates, 38, from Sheffield
IN part two of our four-part series looking back on Rovers’ rise to the Premier League, Jason Wilcox talks about the departure of Don Mackay, the arrival of Kenny Dalglish and the play-off victory at Wembley. JASON Wilcox didn’t need a bird
COUNCIL bosses are debating whether to take action after around six caravans moved on to vacant land near a business park on the outskirts of Clitheroe. Ribble Valley Borough Council said it was aware of the situation and was deciding what
FOLK star Eliza Carthy is set to perform in Clitheroe tonight for an exclusive North West date. The multiple Mercury Music Prize nominee appears in concert at The Grand alongside Saul Rose. Eliza — a former singer of the year for the Radio Two Folk
A MAN allegedly had up to 20 sex sessions with a Burnley schoolgirl at a house in the town, a jury was told. Calum McMahon, now 26, was also said to have had indecent acts performed on him by the girl and to have given her "open mouthed " kisses.
THREE Blackburn men have been jailed for a total of almost 14 years for their part in a digital TV scam. Police seized 200 set-top boxes after raiding four houses and two industrial units in Blackburn, along with a house in Preston, in April
THE boss of an East Lancashire-based building society has called for Britain’s big banks to be broken up. Neil Shoesmith, chief executive of the Nelson-based Marsden Building Society, said the investment arms of well-known banks - dubbed ‘casino’
A COCAINE dealer is in custody awaiting jail after a jury convicted him of a street transaction in Accrington. Philip Cross, 47, of Brown Birks Road, Accrington, was spotted being passed money by a customer, who then took something from him and put
A MAN and a woman in their 40s were injured after a drinking session turned violent. Police were called to reports of a disturbance in Lawrence Street, in the Wensley Road area of Blackburn, at 10.15pm on Sunday night. Detective Sergeant Tim Brown
A COUPLE’S holiday plans were ruined when their camper van set on fire on Sunday evening. The occupants of a house in Glenfield Close, Little Harwood, had been making preparations for their summer break by trying to get the vehicle running. It set alight
Artefact, the new exhibition at the Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, runs from May 22 until July 17. Artefact consists of a group of people dedicated to producing objects of the highest quality. They are a group of makers working across a number of
NEW Darwen and Rossendale MP Jake Berry says he is keen to introduce ‘super advice surgeries’. He hopes he can hold joint events with representatives of the police, council and housing associations, as a ‘one-stop shop’ for people to seek help and
A road that was set to be resurfaced will not be repaired for another year, it has been revealed. Earnsdale Road, described as a ‘rollercoaster’ due to the number of potholes, will not be fixed until at least next year. Blackburn with Darwen Council
A PROSTITUTE banned from Blackburn’s red light district by an Anti-Social Behaviour Order was seen within the zone by police patrolling in an unmarked car. Blackburn magistrates heard Natasha Coker was arrested after a brief chase, and when she was put
PENDLE Forest Under Eights Eagles have gone through the whole season without losing a single game. The unbeatable Forest side finished their season with an impressive record of 19 wins and just one draw and enjoyed a run of 17 consecutive victories.
‘Duck! It's Drake again!’ Having already staged two plays featuring David Tristram’s bungling buffoon, Blackburn Arts Club unashamedly return to the scene of the crime with ‘Inspector Drake And The Black Widow’. The play is an additional
Witton Park was the venue for a double header in the McCains Young Athletes League with Blackburn Harriers hosting a Premier League match as Ribble Valley AC were involved in a First Division contest. Blackburn finished second to their near neighbours
IT might be BBQ season outside but Thwaites Empire Theatre is set to be filled with some early festive spirit from June 3 to 5. The Bolton-by-Bowland Drama Club is bringing ‘A Kick In The Baubles’ to the Blackburn theatre. The play is
MILL Hill Under 10s have won a nationwide football tournament by playing the right way. Not only did the Blackburn side come through the two day tournament unbeaten but they only scooped the fair play award as well. And to add to that
THE name may well have changed but the results are still the same. Athletico Knuzden Under 11s (formerly AFC Darwen) have continued their winning ways by picking up silverware at a top tournament in Wales. Knuzden were up against teams from across the
TOWN hall chiefs have thanked Lord Shutt for his part in the regener-ation of a run-down part of Nelson. Lord Shutt of Greetland has resigned his post as chairman of the Whitefield Regeneration Partnership following his appointment as Deputy Chief Whip
A DOG was rescued from a burning house by firefighters after a faulty washing machine caught fire. Fire crews were called to the blaze at a terrace property in Hargreaves Street, Nelson, while its occupier was out picking up her children from school
ALEX Davies has continued the superb form that earned him a prestigious county award last season. The talented batsman has rattled up some impressive totals this season for QEGS and was a part of the school team that beat an MCC select side last week
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a man was stabbed in what police suspect was a dispute between two families. Police said a 32-year-old man sustained what is believed to be a stab wound to his chest during a ‘violent’ incident in Brierfield
Entrepreneur Matthew Riley, boss of telecoms firm Daisy, has been named dealmaker of the year at the prestigious Mergers and Acquisitions Awards, held at London’s Millennium Mayfair hotel. Mr Riley made a fortune after floating Daisy on to the stock
ENFIELD and Rawtenstall played out a thrilling Worsley Cup tie on Sunday – a month after their league meeting ended in a tie. Enfield recovered from 58-5 to post 208-9 from their 50 overs thanks largely to Liam Jackson’s 63. Hassan Fazal made 41 and
Ben Sutcliffe made the highest score of his Lancashire League career as he hit 120 not out for Todmorden against Lowerhouse in the Worsley Cup. Last year’s beaten finalists have struggled for form so far this season in the league – but they
Nelson bowed out at the first round stage after Burnley professional Farhaan Behardien clattered 126 at Turf Moor. That ton led Burnley to 275-5. Nelson professional Burton de Wett made 53 for the Seedhillites and there were solid contributions from
Bacup beat Rishton after 111 from professional Michael Smith helped them to 248-6. Pro Andrea Agathagelou hit 62, his highest score for Rishton, and with six overs remaining they needed just 35 – and that came down to 16 from the final over. Andrew
The Eden Project held its first "Big Lunch" last year which encouraged people to get together with neighbours to share anything from a simple lunch to a street-party. Bacup based charity, REAL wants to hear from Rossendale people who are planning a Big
Rossendale & Pendle Mountain Rescue Service is hoping to move premises from Clegg St. in Haslingden to a larger base off Manchester Road. The proposed facility costing £500,000 would encourage the growth and development of the service which has
ACCRINGTON striker Bobby Grant was unveiled as a Scunthorpe United player after completing his switch the Championship club. Grant has agreed to join the Iron when his Stanley deal officially expires at the end of June, but Accrington are
JUBILANT Rossendale United players celebrate after beating Fulledge Colts in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the Accrington and District Junior Football League Under 10s final. The match finished goalless after extra time but United players held their
A BOOK detailing the rich history of a Pendle village has hit the shops after its author signed a publishing deal – with the parish council. Foulridge Parish Council registered as an independent publisher under the name Noyna Publishing when
FOUR Blackburn women have been recognised for their achievements at the prestigious Fusion Awards 2010. The awards, sponsored by our sister newspaper Asian Image, celebrated unsung heroes from all walks of life and their contribution to their various
YAQOOB Hussain has landed one of the top boxing coaching roles in the country. The 55-year-old has been named North West regional coach and will work closely with more than 80 clubs across the region. His main job will be to oversee
COLNE caused the biggest shock of the day as they hammered high flying East Lancashire to book their spot in the second round of the Worsley Cup on Sunday. The Horsfielders have suffered a torrid time this season and were well beaten by the Blackburn
I KNOW people sometimes smirk and snigger at our country’s fancy, elaborate, traditional rituals, saying they’re out of date. Then there’s our age-old costumes, such as ermine cloaks and knickerbockers, but I’m all in favour of retaining these symbols
MAGNIFICENT Church stormed into the second round of the Worsley Cup as they hammered Haslingden in the West End sunshine. The clash of last year’s beaten semi-finalists was hopelessly one-sided as Church, with four league wins on the spin,
A CANCER survivor who lost both her parents to the disease has been chosen to launch Blackburn's Race for Life. Helen Ashwell, 44, of Helmshore, will be the 'guest of honour' at the event in Witton Park next Wednesday. Last year around
BURNLEY’s new £81million campus has been heralded for transforming education opportunities in the area. The Burnley College site in Princess Way was chosen as the overall winner in the educational development category at the North West Local Authority
A POLICE officer turned midwife for a day when he delivered a baby outside Royal Blackburn Hospital. PC Simon Grounds, 24, who was at the hospital on another matter, came across the expectant mother and her partner in the car park early on
The National Blood Service are back in the Rossendale Valley this month. If you wish to donate blood and save a life Blood Donor sessions are taking place in Ramsbottom tomorrow Wednesday 26th May 2010. The venue for this is Ramsbottom Cricket club,
I AM writing on behalf of Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club to thank all the walkers who took part and the helpers, sponsors and organisations who supported us with our great charity walk on Sunday, May 9. Approximately 600 walkers, started by Julie
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Vince Grella has received criticism from national manager Pim Verbeek after a two-footed lunge on Leo Bertos during Australia’s 2-1 friendly win over New Zealand in Melbourne yesterday. Verbeek substituted Grella
BLACKBURN with Darwen Acrobatic Gymnastics Club have enjoyed its fair share of success at two recent competitions. The club took 12 youngsters to the North West Tariff competition at Robin Park, Wigan and returned with a clutch of medals.
ENFIELD may still be wondering how they won and so retained the President’s Cup. While it was a much improved second half performance from the Accrington-based team - it could not have been any worse than the first - they know Mill Hill should
FOOTBALLERS finally got to live out their dream when an over 30s five-a-side competition was held at Blackburn Rovers. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for die-hards fans to step out on to Ewood Park was organised by Blackburn Rovers Community
THE parents of a seven-month-old baby who suffered what an inquest was told was a horrific catalogue of 18 'non-accidental' injuries have been charged with neglect. Mohammed Karolia, 27, and Nafisa Karolia, 21, both of Dickens Street, in the
IT is futile to compare wartime and peacetime coalition government. In wartime, use is made of the best brains available regardless of party. By definition, the current Conservative-Lib Dem coalition is ring-fenced around the two parties. The sad fact
I waited for the referendum on Europe I was promised. I watched a smoking ban put in place without any consultation. I am considered a raging alcoholic if I drink more than two pints a night. I saw criminals given more rights than any victim could expect
ERNEST Wray was 89 years old. He suffered from angina, heart valve problems and an irregular heartbeat. The retired accountant was described as a ‘sensible man, who was fit for his age and wouldn’t take any risks’. But on February 9 last year he suffered
MOTORCYCLISTS are being warned to be extra vigilant following a spate of thefts in Darwen. In recent months, some 12 motorcycles and one quad bike have been stolen, mainly from the St James’ area of the town. Police have teamed up with
JOINT Lancashire League leaders Ramsbottom have received the news they were desperate to hear over the fitness of their professional Francois du Plessis. The South African former Lancashire batsman pulled up in agony during Saturday’s win at
A SCHOOLGIRL is aiming to strike gold by becoming a world 10-pin bowling champion. Becky Daly, 13, of Accrington, has been selected to represent England at the World Sports Festival in Austria this summer. Aside from being the youngest
PROMISING young cricketer Matthew Shirt has been honoured for his efforts with a long-standing tribute award. The 12-year-old has won the Craig Heaton Memorial Trophy for the most improved player in the Burnley and District Under 13s squad.
TWO men arrested following the murder of a Nelson couple and their daughter in Pakistan have gone ‘missing’, police said. The pair had been released on 'protective bail' after being detained over the shooting of Mohammed Yousaf, his wife Parviaz
MARTIN Paterson is fired up for a Premier League return, after injury marred his debut top-flight season. The Burnley striker was desperate to make his mark after inspiring the Clarets’ promotion campaign with 19 goals. But his plans
STEVEN Ireland fears he could be on his way out of Mnchester City if Roberto Mancini is successful in the transfer market this summer. ASTON VIlla are lining up a summer bis for Scott Parker from West Ham United. FORMER Burnley manager John Benson
GRANT Hanley is determined to follow in Colin Hendry’s footsteps at Blackburn Rovers after being labelled ‘the new Braveheart’ by Ewood Park staff. The Scotland under 19 captain impressed on his first-team debut for Rovers in their 1-0 win
TWO wickets in the last 11 overs from captain Glen Chapple gave Lancashire a real boost on a hard-fought opening day of their LV= County Championship Division One match against Essex at Old Trafford. After the visitors were invited to bat despite a covering
ACCRINGTON Stanley look set to lose star striker Bobby Grant to Championship club Scunthorpe – but the Reds hope for at least £250,000 for the 19-year-old. Grant had indicated he would sign a new deal at Stanley, with his current contract set to expire
THOMAS Whitham College beat QEGS in the Lancashire Schools Under 19s FA Cup final thanks to a dramatic last-minute penalty. It capped a remarkable recovery by the Burnley school who had been trailing their Blackburn rivals by 2-0 at the half time break
JACK Steff has added to his reputation of one of the best young fighters in the country after winning his second national junior ABA title. The 18-year-old beat Luton’s Dan Brierley on points at the Metrodome, Barnsley to make it back-to-back national
Graeme Ballard and Michael Churm have been selected for the Great Britain team at the BT Paralympic World Cup, which starts today in Manchester. The two Chorley Athletic Club members will take part in the 100m and 200m sprints and will be competing
