Parkinson's Disease Society, Temple Street Resource Centre, Burnley, 7.30pm. Speaker: Keith Hall. Blackburn and DIstrict Probus Club, St Silas Church Hall, Preston New Road, Blackburn, 10.30am. Auction, Cambridge Street Methodist Church, off Burnley Road
MEMBERS of one of East Lancashire's oldest societies celebrated its annual dinner on Friday. The Blackburn Catenian Society was formed 90 years ago and is thought to be only the sixth such society set up following the first Catenian group set up in Manchester
WELDERS are offering to mend for free any broken metal objects that are brought to its roadshow. The BOC Welding Roadshow 2001 takes place at the BOC Gas and Gear Centre on GEC Industrial Estate, Blackburn Road, Clayton le Moors. Experts from the firm
A BLACKBURN company has leapt to the rescue of the town's fire crews by providing specialist equipment for rescuing people trapped in vehicles. Staff from Lancashire Windscreens were alerted to the problem of smashing windscreens while people are still
BLACKBURN Hospital Players are disbanding after 30 years because their venue is no longer available. The Players started off at the Royal Infirmary but progressed to Queen's Park Hospital, where they performed in the hall, putting on two shows per year
ROY Davies has been misinformed when he states "the council intends to spend £20,000 on a sculpture to be placed in Darwen." (Letters, April 5). The council is, in fact, spending nothing as it has been successful in obtaining a £10,000 Millennium Commission
AFTER the sickening sight on TV of a man with a rifle running around a field full of sheep with their lambs attempting to kill them, I felt ashamed to be called a human being! Fair enough, according to the experts, all these animals need to be slaughtered
LIKE Mr J S Kent, editor of the Manchester Geologist (Letters, April 16), I am happy to praise your contributions on local and family history coverage. However, regarding his suggestion that the Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society is far
PHONE threats were made to Bolton's Moat House Hotel before the early morning fire in which an elderly couple died, it was revealed today. Fire investigators and senior detectives believe a mattress which was set alight in a third floor corridor, could
FORMER pupils of a Bolton school who now live in the Bury area are being invited back for a reunion. Organisers are casting the net throughout Greater Manchester in a bid to get in touch with as many former pupils of the old Castlehill Secondary Modern
A REMINDER to local companies is that Thursday (April 26) will see the launch of the Business Security Initiative in Bury. Under the scheme small manufacturing firms in Bury will be in line for £250,000 of government funding to help them improve their
IT'S no wonder Mr Charles English and his wife, Jane, have a sparkle in their eyes. The Bury couple, who live in Dorset Drive, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Thursday (April 19). They marked it with a party for relatives and friends on
GIVE the dog a home! That's the urgent appeal to pet lovers throughout the Bury area from Manchester Dogs' Home. The sanctuary has 160 dogs in its re-homing kennels which are full to capacity. This follows the well-publicised increase in cases of abandoned
VILLAGERS at Cliviger are planning to kick up a stink over contingency plans for the dumping of animal carcasses in a local landfill site. The Environment Agency confirmed that the Deerplay landfill site off Bacup Road had been identified as a possible
A BURY man due for sentencing on charges of stealing from his employer and handling stolen goods, suddenly tried to change his plea in respect of one offence when he appeared before Rochdale magistrates. Jason Noble, 26, of Downham Crescent, Bury, had
A NEW leadership team has taken over the job of making sure the East Bury Initiative continues to flourish. Two local residents and active community members now lead the initiative's steering group: Louis Hough, who becomes chairman, and Geoff Higginbottom
LEIGH RMI couldn't have asked for tougher opposition as they try to get their season back on track. Promotion-chasing Yeovil Town visit Hilton Park tonight, kick off 7.45pm, looking for maximum points to put further pressure on Conference leaders Rushden
CRAIG Short plans to lead the charge to the nearest chippy tonight if Rovers batter Grimsby at Blundell Park. The veteran defender fondly recalls previous trips to Cleethorpes when the team bus used to stop off at the nearest takeaway on the journey home
LOOKING ahead to the key players for the Mariners. BIG MONEY MAN: The Mariners record buy is former Huddersfield, Halifax and West Brom midfielder Kevin Donovan, bought from the Baggies for £300,000 in July 1997. The Mariners may need to call on all his
YOU can't go anywhere near Sir Jack Hayward's temple at Molineux without seeing it, feeling it, being surrounded by it. It seemed so apt on Saturday that Rovers should take their next stride there, at Wolverhampton, towards the pot of Premiership gold
EWOOD hot-shot Marcus Bent today vowed to end his goal-drought by firing Rovers into the Premiership. After making an explosive start to his Ewood career, the goals have since dried up for the 22-year-old striker over the last eight games. But, as Rovers
MEMBERS of Pennine Riding Club can see their target of raising £13,000 this month firmly in view -- but they know that a lot of hard work and effort is needed before they reach the finishing line. They are determined that youngsters in the Todmorden area
BUSY bees at Burnley's Asda store had to raised £300 to send a child on a dream holiday -- so they raised three times that in just two days! The two-day event was held to raise funds for one local child to go on a Honeypot Holiday in the New Forest in
AN East Lancashire soldier has been Mentioned in Despatches after he faced an angry mob in Kosovo, firing shots over their heads so his commander could get to safety. Corporal Jason Kostilek, of the King's Royal Hussars, acted instinctively when his vehicle
A BURGLAR went on a £15,000 crime spree to feed his £100-a-day heroin addiction, Burnley Crown Court heard. Ex-con Darren Storer, 29, turned to the drug after his then girlfriend's parents' house was targeted -- he was not the culprit but they blamed
VILLAGERS at Cliviger are planning to kick up a stink over contingency plans for the dumping of animal carcasses in a local landfill site. The Environment Agency confirmed that the Deerplay landfill site off Bacup Road had been identified as a possible
POLICE in Nelson are urging residents to keep their doors locked even when they are at home. The warning follows two incidents in which burglars have entered premises and stolen property when the residents have been in the house. It only takes a thief
PENDLE'S deputy mayoress Kathleen Shore today pledged to carry out major fund-raising charity work in the coming months, even though she says she has been dumped as first lady of the borough. Council stalwart Mrs Shore says was told by mayor elect and
HAVING written recently to say how thrilled I was with the new library in Great Harwood and what a good job the workforce had done in all sorts of weather, I now congratulate the workforce for the good job put into the town's new Co-op store. Well done
FIREMEN sprayed water to cool down a wagon-load of steaming furnace coke which had self-heated on Heys Lane, Oswaldtwistle.
YOUNG firebugs playing with matches set fire to wooden pallets outside Marsden Packaging, Moss Street, Blackburn. Firemen prevented the blaze from spreading to the building.
THE accounts of second-hand shops in Hyndburn have been trawled as part of an operation to net burglars and drugs dealers. Operation Reassure -- a project launched in December -- has resulted in more than 1,000 arrests. Information gathered by officers
A PAINFUL knee injury which struck a first-time runner in the London Marathon three weeks ago didn't stop her from completing the race and raising money for a children's charity. And Helen Goodwin, of St Mary's Court, Clayton-le-Moors, enjoyed the run
THE partner of Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe was today given a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to being drunk while in charge of a child at Manchester Airport. Gabrielle Kroger, of New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, appeared before magistrates
FROM flying through thunderstorms over the Rockies to praying that he didn't crash land in the crocodile-infested Everglades . Ephrem Clarke has more than the odd good yarn to spin down the pub. But for the time being, the adventurous 44-year-old will
RESIDENTS and an MP have been told their will be no investigation into alleged drug-taking at an Accrington bail hostel. Calls were made for the probe at Highfield House bail hostel in Lydia Street, Accrington, after a man appeared in court to explain
CLARETS midfielder Paul Weller insists the pressure for a top-six place is on everybody, but Burnley, as the promotion marathon enters its final straight. Burnley's play-off hopes will be over if they lose at home to relegated Tranmere tonight, but having
LOOKING forward to the vital clash at Turf Moor. BIG MONEY MAN: Wayne Allison may return from injury tonight, and is one of only two players in the Tranmere squad to have cost a fee. The £250,000 signing from Huddersfield scored 16 goals last season but
RETURNING hero Micky Mellon is hoping for a second straight Burnley promotion -- but will still be out to put a spanner in the works for Stan Ternent's men at Turf Moor tonight. Mellon's goal at Scunthorpe last May paved the way for the Clarets to clinch
A FUNDRAISER ended with a bullseye from a pub regular. Alan Warriner -- the darting world's number four seed -- was staging a darts exhibition for the Craig Walsh Appeal at the Havelock Inn, Havelock Street, Blackburn. Alan volunteered to play any of
WACKY ideas and business support are needed as Bury gets under starter's orders for the Commonwealth Games. The big plan is for Bury to "host" a nation, providing a home from home to competitors from one specific country. Athletes may stay and train locally
RETURNING hero Micky Mellon is hoping for a second straight Burnley promotion -- but will still be out to put a spanner in the works for Stan Ternent's men at Turf Moor tonight. Mellon's goal at Scunthorpe last May paved the way for the Clarets to clinch
EWOOD hot-shot Marcus Bent today vowed to end his goal-drought by firing Rovers into the Premiership. After making an explosive start to his Ewood career, the goals have since dried up for the 22-year-old striker over the last eight games. But, as Rovers
FORMER pupils of Darwen Grammar school are invited to a reunion next month. Organisers of the event are keen to get in touch with people who started at the Blackburn Road school in 1956. They have already contacted most of the people, but are struggling
VANDALS caused hundreds of pounds-worth of damage after another weekend wrecking spree in Darwen. Offenders caused £300-worth of damage after throwing a brick through the driver's window of a Nissan Micra, in Sough Road, and scratching the paintwork on
FISHMONGER David Peet is retiring from his Rossendale market stalls but he is hoping the business won't 'flounder'. He has decided it's time to call it a day on his stalls at Haslingden, Rawtenstall and Bacup Markets, but is hoping to be able to sell
PLANS for a £1million sports hall, competition climbing wall, cafe and kitchen at Fearns Community High School in Stacksteads have been submitted to Rossendale Council. It is three years since the school applied for lottery funding to develop its community
A MOTHER whose son died after a road accident is seeking legal advice after the driver was fined £1,000. Javed Ali, eight, was knocked down on a Pelican crossing on Blackburn Road, Haslingden, as he made his way home from St James's School. Javed, who
HEALTH bosses today urged Asian people across East Lancashire to make sure they are fully vaccinated against a rare form of meningitis. The warning came as tests were still being carried out on a 34-year-old man to establish what strain of the virus he
CELEBRITY TV chef Nigel Haworth has been signed up by Blackburn Rovers to provide catering at Ewood Park. The club has signed a five-year deal with award-winning Northcote Manor to serve up premiership-class catering for its corporate hospitality suites
I WASN'T surprised by the threat by Trafford Council to close sections of Old Trafford due to fans persistently standing up during matches. This happens not only at Old Trafford, but at every football league ground in Britain. And, obviously, the safety
PETER Oliver (LET, April 18) admits that the Lancashire League can no longer attract established test stars, which is a fact of life for all leagues with the amount of test cricket being played all the year round and the exorbitant financial demands of
A COLLEGE lecturer who downloaded more than 1,200 pornographic images of children from the internet was in one of East Lancashire's most successful pop bands. Mark Andrew McVitie had the images stored on floppy discs at his home when police raided on
IT is a marvellous tribute to the compassion and generosity of the people of East Lancashire -- and, in particular, of its Asian community -- that the Indian Earthquake Appeal, backed by this newspaper, today stands at nearly £50,000. For such an amount
BLACKBURN'S King George's Hall has pulled off a musical coup with the announcement Indie group Cast are set to play a low-key gig there. The Liverpudlian group, which has had several hit albums and a handful of top 10 singles, will perform in the Windsor
THE hard work of young Millennium volunteers was recognised at an awards ceremony at the County Hotel, Blackburn. The Blackburn branch of the volunteers was set up as part of a national initiative to involve young people in the community and help them
BURNLEY Garrick Club presents Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular at Burnley Mechanics Theatre from Wednesday, May 16, to Saturday, May 19. The comedy has an unusual set of three kitchens in which three couples are visited over a period of three successive
DARWEN Library Players are putting the finishing touches to their latest production, to be staged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Ideal Gnome Expedition is a musical play for children and tells the story of two garden gnomes, Mr Wheeler and Mrs Fisher
AREUNION has been arranged for ex-pupils of Burnley Girls High School who began their secondary school career in August 1962, and left in 1967, 68 or 69, at The Inn on the Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, from midday on Sunday May 6, with a small charge
REGARDING Councillor Tim O'Kane (Letters, April 3) reminding us about the death of the poll tax 10 years ago, at the time you published the letter from me, chronicling who said what and it is interesting to look back with Coun O'Kane's remarks in mind
REGARDING your article (LET, April 11) about the Crown and Thistle pub in Darwen adding kangaroo and crocodile to its menu, aren't there enough animals slaughtered each year without more breeds added to the list? If people only realised what actually
WE would like to thank Blackburn with Darwen Council and Tom Wilson, Head of Outdoor Amenities and Leisure, who with his team has worked for more than four years to obtain a grant from the Heritage Lottery fund to restore our Victorian gem, Corporation
IMUST confess that I have never bothered to vote. At times, I have felt guilty about this, However, this year, I can do so with a clear conscience as the outcome is apparently a foregone conclusion. It has already been decided that the Labour Party is
APATHY from the citizens of Blackburn over what sort of local government structure they want? -- Never! Low returns from the option forms and our councillors wonder why (LET, April 13). Several thousand Blackburn people will no doubt agree that councillors
ALONG with everyone else who uses Corporation Park in Blackburn, I was delighted when the news finally came through that the Council had finally won the bid for Heritage Fund money. (LET, April 16). Corporation Park is a beautiful park and is much enjoyed
A GRILL pan blaze resulted in firefighters attending a house in Ashbrook Close, Whitefield, in the early hours of Saturday (April 21) morning. The owner accidentally turned on the grill at around 1.30am. The fire was largely confined to the cooker. The
A TEAM of Bury-based corporate advisers certainly mean business. The squad from Dale Carnegie Training have decided to leave the comforts of their desks to take part in a three peaks challenge event organised by Cable & Wireless. The challenge, in
BURY is sharing in a new service which offers carers and children help in solving problems with their relationships. The NSPCC service is informal and confidential and can be accessed by whoever is motivated to solve a problem, adult or child. NSPCC practitioner
A COLLEGE lecturer who downloaded more than 1,200 pornographic images of children from the internet was in one of East Lancashire's most successful pop bands. Mark Andrew McVitie had the images stored on floppy discs at his home when police raided on
FORMER Ewood favourite Steve Livingstone today described Grimsby's clash with Rovers tonight as his side's biggest game of the season. The Mariners still need another win to guarantee their First Division safety following Saturday's 1-0 home defeat against
LIVERPOOL RES 0 - ROVERS RES 0 RESERVE boss Terry Darracott saluted his Rovers young guns after they dug deep to grind out a useful point against Liverpool at Anfield. With the first team on duty at Grimsby tonight, Darracott had to call on a host of
GRIMSBY boss Lennie Lawrence has fired a broadside at his relegation-haunted squad ahead of tonight's crucial showdown with Blackburn Rovers at Blundell Park. Lawrence was appalled by his side's lack of application on Saturday as they crashed to a 1-0
A PARISH has said a fond farewell to its priest Father Tony Dalton who has left Burnley for Cumbria. The congregation at St Catherine's Church, Todmorden Road, held a farewell party for Fr Dalton who has been at the church since 1996. Today he took over
MARCH financial problems blew hospital budgets off course -- and left health managers with an extra £330,000 to find the coming year. Burnley Health Trust seemed to be coasting to a £320,000 underspend after knuckling down to strict budget restrictions
PRIMARY school teacher Emma Sykes will have no choice but to stick to her diet -- because her top juniors will make sure she does! And 'Miss' has a very good reason for losing the pounds as she will in turn be raising pounds for Pendleside Hospice. Emma
TRANMERE'S caretaker boss Kevin Sheedy insists his relegated side won't sink without trace as they head for Turf Moor tonight. The Merseysiders were doomed to the drop on Saturday but Sheedy, unable to stop the rot after replacing John Aldridge at the
MAYBE it's just me. But I'm beginning to suspect that there is a blind spot about 12 yards out from goal in the penalty area in front of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand. The funny thing is, the only people who are affected by said blind spot are the match officials
TRANMERE old boy Ian Moore can hit the net with a clear conscience tonight after his former club had their fate sealed on Saturday. Rovers were relegated after 10 years in the League's second tier following their failure to beat Crystal Palace and Huddersfield's
THE New World is the theme of this year's Ribchester Festival, which will be partly staged in local pubs. The annual event has a record of attracting internationally acclaimed musicians. Stacy Kent, voted vocalist of the year in the British Jazz Awards
A PUB'S refurbishment has got a spooky thumbs-up from its resident ghosts. Burtonwood Brewery invested over £90,000 in revamping the Euxton Mills, Wigan Road, Chorley and paranormal activity has died down since it reopened. Licensee Keith Burgess, said
BARNOLDSWICK-based Silentnight Beds has restructured its sales training and merchandising team to further strengthen its support for retailers across the UK. National sales trainer Vanessa Bright is responsible for developing relations with Silentnight's
SHARES in Action Computer Supplies have more than doubled over the past week following a possible takeover bid. Chief executive David Palk confirmed there had been several approaches when he unveiled interim results that saw the group return to profitability
THE foot and mouth crisis has dealt a final blow to a Lancashire-based hotel services company which has been put into the hands of administrators. Business turnaround specialists KPMG Corporate Recovery are hoping to sell all or parts of Minotel Great
I'M trying hard to be a Surrendered Wife. Like many other women who have heard all about this lifestyle -- renowned for instilling harmony into your marriage -- I thought I would give it a go. The idea -- hit upon by American Laura Doyle -- involves giving
TALKS between Bury loan star Colin Cramb and chairman Terry Robinson will take place this week in a bid to keep the hitman at Gigg Lane next season. The Shakers are trying to find a way to keep the striker, despite having no money to spend. Cramb is contracted
A COMPANY boss is due for trial following the death of a man who was crushed under a lorry. Andrew Walker, 33, of Bury Fold Lane, Darwen, a director of Kenley Distribution and Warehousing, is jointly charged with manslaughter along with lorry driver Christopher
DETECTIVES investigating a suspected arson attack on a Darwen tanning studio have issued Crimestopper posters in the hope they will catch the people responsible. The posters have been put up on lamp-posts outside the Sunworld Leisure tanning shop, in
THE owner of a memorial bench stolen from Darwen Cemetery has appealed for CCTV cameras to be installed in a bid to stop it happening again. Carol Hope, of Richmond Terrace, Darwen, was devastated after vandals stole the wooden seat which was donated
A YEAR in the life of a card stall on Rawtenstall Market has been captured in artwork by Dave Pearson from Globe Artists in Waterfoot. Dinah Hunt has been on the market for 44 years next month and last year celebrated her 70th birthday. Dave, of Haslingden
MEMBERS of a new scheme to promote voluntary work have received awards. Nearly 90 learners from the Blackburn with Darwen Credit Framework received their received their certificates of learning achievement at the first Credit Framework presentation evening
SHOPPERS looked in anger as they scanned the skyline to discover council bosses had failed to fly the flag for England - on St George's Day. Visitors to Darwen town centre were left in shock yesterday after finding the Union Jack flying above the Town
PROJECTS in Blackburn and Burnley are celebrating a massive lottery cash boost as part of a technology funding programme. Blackburn's 'Building Bridges' programme has been given a £100,000 cash injection and the Danehouse Information and Communication
TROUBLED people who try to phone the Samaritans could soon hear nothing but an engaged tone if the Blackburn branch of the charity cannot get more volunteers. The Samaritans pride themselves on providing a service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for people
A FAMILY today vowed to stay put despite a mystery firebomb attack on their home. Carl Poynton was on his own in his parents' home in Hazel Close, Bank Top, Blackburn, when a brick was hurled through the kitchen window followed by a petrol bomb. Carl,
AN appeal to raise funds for an area of India devastated by a massive earthquake has raised nearly £50,000. And the Blackburn organisers of the appeal -- which was backed by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph -- have pooled the money together with similar
lot from the French! GRAEME Souness and the Rovers squad have nothing to be ashamed of in losing to Fulham after such a long unbeaten run in the league. They have done us proud. Now that Damian Duff is out for the rest of the season, it would be essential
VILLAGERS fear that a mass burning of foot and mouth infected animals may have released cancer-causing dioxins. Arthur Pooley's flock of 1,000 sheep were burnt on his Ollerton Farm in Withnell back on February 28. The smoke and stench from the pyres lasted
I WAS very sorry to hear of the death of Jim Baxter who played for Rangers,Sunderland and Scotland. A couple of years ago a Scottish friend lent me a video of the 1967 England v Scotland game in which Baxter gave one of the greatest midfield performances
CLITHEROE'S Shawbridge ground has been rejected by the UniBond League. Club bosses have been told they will not be promoted even if they win NWCL Division One. But manager Dave Burgess says the club has appealed against the league's ruling. He said: "
RAMSBOTTOM United have been warned not to take tonight's opponents Leek CSOB lightly -- the strugglers have been getting some mysteriously good results in midweek games recently. Rams boss Mike Kelly has been watching the progress of the NWCL Division
PHONE threats were made to Bolton's Moat House Hotel before the early morning fire in which an elderly couple died, it was revealed today. Fire investigators and senior detectives believe a mattress which was set alight in a third floor corridor, could
