A NEW package of free business support services has been unveiled to help East Lancashire firms become more productive and profitable. The services are aimed at manufacturing firms who could benefit from making use of up to date information technology
HUNDREDS of stunned dairy workers were told at mass meetings that they were being made redundant as a firm's expansion plans left them out in the cold. Bitterness and disbelief greeted the announcement that Associated Dairies, Stanley Street, Accrington
TOP arm wrestlers from across the world descended on a Blackburn pub car park for the Arm Wars UK invitational tournament at the weekend. Locals at the Oak Tree pub on Livesey Branch Road were astonished to see competitors from as far away as America
I WOULD love to say 'thank you' to the organisers of Ten Days of Reality. I only managed to go to five events as I had booked a holiday in Scotland in between. But what a wonderful time I had - singing and talking to Jesus and sharing his love with lots
THE visit of the Japanese Emperor to this country is an insult to all personnel of Britain, the Commonwealth and the USA who served in the Far East and Pacific during World War Two and to their dependants. It is also an insult that our Queen should honour
THE SUSPICIONS of many people will, we think, be echoed in the speculation today by top mad cow disease expert, Dr Stephen Dealler, of Burnley, that government scientists were gagged by their political bosses from publicly revealing their concerns long
THE local election results sent a clear message to New Labour. The same people who voted to get rid of the Tories only 12 months ago were not prepared to turn out to support Tory policies and attitudes under a Labour government. This wasn't a local matter
Looking Back, with Eric Leaver TIRED legs? It must be those steel stockings, dear. Well, if that's not what women are wearing nowadays, 50 years ago the Northern Daily Telegraph seriously suggested they would be. And back in 1948 - when clothes rationing
TORE Pedersen is wanted by Norwegian club Brann Bergen but money could be a stumbling block to any potential deal. And, if Pedersen is to be one of those who leave Ewood this summer, Blackburn Rovers boss Roy Hodgson would certainly be looking to replace
WALSALL have made an approach for Burnley full-back Chris Vinnicombe who looks set to leave Turf Moor this summer. Vinnicombe has been offered a new one-year deal by the Clarets but that will not be good enough to keep him at the club unless the new manager
TEST pilots from across the world landed in Lancashire. British Aerospace Military Aircraft, based at Samlesbury and Warton, sponsored a major conference for the Society of Experimental Test Pilots which was held in Manchester. And as part of their stay
THE strong pound is continuing to hit profits at manufacturers in the region. Latest figures released by business information group Experian found that the average return on capital achieved by companies in the North West was the lowest in the country
FAST growing firm Formfill is making a name for itself in computers - but knows a human face is just as important for its success! Under the Guardian Angel scheme, the Blackburn high tech firm was 'married' to Mike Murray, the entrepreneur who founded
FOOTBALL fans snapping up hired vans and cars to watch Burnley FC in their Wembley final were warned against overloading vehicles with supporters. Tony Williams of P and M Motors, Nelson, said: "I dread to think what would happen if a van with 20 or 30
CANNON roared and steel clashed on steel as a battle from 350 years ago was fought again. Hundreds of people arrived at Hoghton Tower to experience the atmosphere of the Battle of Preston in 1648 between the Royalists and Cromwell's forces. Hoghton's
A PENSIONER claims he has been left in the dark by Blackburn with Darwen Council after workmen flooded the flat upstairs, leaving him without light for a week. Harold Riding, 77, has contacted the authority regularly to complain about repairs at his flat
A TOP doctor from Burnley today claimed that scientists were poised to blow open the former government's 'cover-up' surrounding mad cow disease when the BSE inquiry resumes next month. Dr Stephen Dealler said he believed that under close cross examination
WASIM Akram is out of today's floodlit Axa League clash with Essex - and could be struggling for Wednesday's Benson and Hedges Cup quarter final at Surrey. That was the shock news casting a shadow over Lancashire's first Championship win of the season
EMPLOYEES at Blackburn's compact disc factory have been told its takeover as part of a £6 billion deal is a "positive" move for the future. The world's biggest record company is set to be formed after electronics giant Philips agreed to sell its stake
CARL Fogarty produced his best form of the season to take the chequered flag in race two at Albacete to move up to second place in the 1998 Superbike Championship. The Blackburn bike ace bounced back from a disappointing opening race to storm away from
CHILDREN at nurseries and schools in East Lancashire could be given daily fluoride tablets following a successful trial in Burnley. East Lancashire is a recognised black spot for dental health in children, and particularly in youngsters from Burnley.
Lancashire League THERE cannot be many occasions where both professionals score a century at a combined rate of better than a run a ball yet feature in a game of mind-numbing tedium. That fate befell Ian Harvey and Joe Scuderi yesterday, however, as Ramsbottom
THE latest statistics show that hospital waiting lists have risen by 47,000 in the last three months. So, in just over one year of the new Labour government, hospital waiting lists have risen by nearly 150,000. Even Frank Dobson, the beleagured Health
AS a former councillor and a motorist of 30 years' experience, I cannot understand the attitude of Adrian Shurmer and Kevin Elvey (Letters, May 18 and 19) regarding traffic-calming measures. I can assure them that from my extensive experience of canvassing
THE REFERENDUM vote by the people of Ulster giving a distinct 'Yes' to the Good Friday deal - albeit with less certainty among the Protestant community - is a platform for lasting peace. After 30 years of violence and nearly 3,500 murders, this rejection
MUSIC was the first love and it could well be the last for self-confessed record obsessive Graham Duff. The comedy writer and performer from Great Harwood may not yet be a household name, but he will soon have his own series of six programmes on Radio
