AS climaxes go, Blackburn Rovers came up with a cracker -- a 4-0 thrashing of Spurs at White Hart Lane to blast them back into Europe. It is a marvellous end to a super season for the Ewood side. East Lancashire says: "Well done!" to the players and manager
IN the debate over evolution and creationism, Tom Sargent (Letters, April 29) raises the age-old question of which came first - the chicken or the egg. In nature, living things evolve through changes in their DNA. In an animal like a chicken, DNA from
YOUR headline 'Students failed' as colleges struggle to employ (LET, May 7) is taken from the Chief Inspector's Ofsted and Adult Learning Inspectorate Report for 2001/2002 which did not include any Lancashire colleges. It is therefore taken out of local
A 22-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before Bolton magistrates charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Richard Bourke, of Pennington, Leigh, was also charged with three counts of dangerous driving, and a charge of obtaining services by deception. The
LIBRARIES across Bury will be taking part in this year's Local History Month which runs right through May. Following on from the success of last year's programme across the country, the Historical Association is bringing together a range of local and
JUBILANT Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel today described Rovers' return to Europe as an even better achievement than winning the Worthington Cup. Graeme Souness's troops will compete in the UEFA Cup again next season thanks to a thrilling 4-0 victory over
DAMIEN Duff underlined exactly why he's the most wanted man in the Premiership with a mesmerising display of wing-wizardry to lead Blackburn back into Europe. The inspirational Irishman was simply irresistible as Rovers secured a UEFA Cup spot at Spurs
SCHOOLS in Burnley could be financially better off -- if they take part in a new recycling scheme. The Yellow Woods Challenge is offering schools a top cash prize of £2,000 for the school collecting the most yellow pages. The challenge is a new recycling
A FIERCE struggle was under way today as residents squared up to developers in a bid to save a rural area of Burnley. Locals in Worsthorne and Hurstwood have been mobilised in a bid to fight off developers planning to build on rural land between Pike
A DISABLED pensioner was rescued by neighbours after a massive explosion rocked the area and left next door engulfed in flames. Crowds joined police and firefighters to break into the home of bed-ridden pensioner Ethel Watson and pull her free as fire
SHAKERS believe their passing style is bound to flourish on Bournemouth's smoother playing surface in an intriguing Third Division play-off second leg on Tuesday night. After bossing 47 minutes of a first leg drought at Gigg Lane on Saturday, Premiership
THE multi-use games area which will be created on the King George V playing fields in Colne will receive the majority of its funding from the council's capital programme. Councillors on the Colne and district committee agreed that £30,500 would be allocated
POLICE are appealing for witnesses in a bid to track down a gang who tied up and beat two security guards. The balaclava-clad robbers grabbed a substantial cash haul in the attack near the Co-op Store in Queen Street, Great Harwood, on Friday at 1.30pm
BOLTON and Bury Chamber is lobbying hard via The British Chambers of Commerce network to ensure that local business interests are served in the reconstruction of Iraq. With the US picking up the major costs of Iraqi reconstruction, American law states
YOUNG entrepreneurs at a Clitheroe school have swept the board in the local heat of a top business competition with a computer car that motors around classrooms. Odyssey, from Ribblesdale Technology College, won the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley final of
THE government has admitted to East Lancashire MP Nigel Evans that fly-tipping is costing the taxpayer £100million a year. And the Tory frontbencher has placed the blame for the 50,000-plus incidents of illegal dumping of rubbish on the government's landfill
APPLE'S big new idea, an online music service that is entirely legal and above board, has been launched. Called the Apple Music Store, (www.apple.com/music/store), it integrates closely with Apple's iTunes software, which has been updated to coincide
CAPTAIN Martin Dobson led out the championship team of 1973 at a special 30th anniversary dinner at Turf Moor on Saturday. Most of the Burnley team that last won promotion to England's top division were guests of honour at the event, organised by Ex-Clarets
BURNLEY could use Manchester United's fringe players to push for promotion next season. A trio of youngsters from Old Trafford have been linked with a loan move to Turf Moor. Midfielders Michael Stewart and Danny Pugh, who both featured for United in
LANCASHIRE will have a delicate decision to make this week if they are banned from signing Carl Hooper as a short-term replacement for Harbhajan Singh. The Hooper issue will be thrashed out by representatives of the 18 counties at the First Class Forum
RUSSELL Whalley smashed the Jennings Ribblesdale League record as Great Harwood swept into the second round of the Ramsbottom Cup. Whalley clubbed 18 fours and 18 sixes on his way to a personal total of 214 against Ribblesdale Wanderers. He clattered
BURNLEY could use Manchester United's fringe players to push for promotion next season. A trio of youngsters from Old Trafford have been linked with a loan move to Turf Moor. Midfielders Michael Stewart and Danny Pugh, who both featured for United in
JUBILANT Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel today described Rovers' return to Europe as an even better achievement than winning the Worthington Cup. Graeme Souness's troops will compete in the UEFA Cup again next season thanks to a thrilling 4-0 victory over
FIREFIGHTERS are looking for new recruits. Fire chiefs are inviting members of the public to give up some of their spare time to become community firefighters, who work for the service aside from their main jobs. Kevin Birtwell, Darwen sub-officer, said
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after five homes were burgled over a two day period. Around £200 in cash was stolen from a house on Rock Lane in Tockholes when offenders got in through a front window. Goods valued at £1,730 were stolen from a home
WAR veterans are pushing ahead with their campaign to create a lasting memorial for Jack Banks, a 16-year-old Darwen soldier killed in World War Two. As part of the campaign, members of the Normandy Veterans' Association 95th (Barnet) branch are still
VILLAGERS who failed to halt a major house building project in Weir have vowed to keep an eagle eye on developers. Cheshire-based Wordsworth Corporation appealed against Rossendale Council's refusal of permission to build 44 houses on the site of the
MELISSA Westwood can't believe her good fortune to working at the stately home she visited as a child. She spoke to Jenny Scott... WHEN Melissa Westwood was eight years old she visited Hoghton Tower with her family. Now 37, Melissa can remember little
PATIENTS in East Lancashire waiting for diagnoses on potentially cancerous skin lesions will soon benefit from a revolutionary plastic surgery scheme. At present, patients are referred to Royal Preston Hospital and have photographs taken of the affected
A DISABLED Blackburn poet is hoping to see his life's work on sale in bookshops before he dies as a tribute to his late wife who died in his arms. Michael Kelly, 52, of Mary Street, Audley, suffers from progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) -- the same
A 19-YEAR-OLD man suffered serious burns after climbing 30 feet up an electricity pylon carrying 30,000 volts. Liam Flynn, of Dominica Avenue, Lower Darwen, was rescued by fire crews and paramedics after the incident at Eccleshill Gardens in Roman Road
PARENTS with young children were today urged to take advantage of a new campaign which aims to immunise all youngsters against a deadly bug which can lead to meningitis and other serious illnesses. Health officials were due to launch an extensive booster
EDUCATION bosses behind a self-defence course for cabbies are celebrating, after it was named Britain's best new educational scheme. Blackburn with Darwen Council scooped the top prize at the annual New Learning Opportunities Awards. The council launched
AN INQUIRY has been launched after it was claimed that Blackburn's two warring bus firms were not sticking to their timetables. And if the investigation finds that the firms - Blackburn Borough Transport and new start-up firm Catchmebus.com - are operating
A GROWING number of PNE players are facing the knife during the summer as Craig Brown bids to have a fully fit side for pre-season in August. Star striker Richard Cresswell is to have a double-hernia operation within the next two weeks, just before he
IT is spring and at this time of year many of us are embarking on a spot of DIY or gardening. But research from the latest Department for Education and Skills Get campaign has shown that millions of us may be wasting wallpaper and squandering seeds due
PINNED to the wall in the revision corner of the secondary school library is a note by actress Beverley Sills. It reads: "You may be disappointed if you fail but you are doomed if you don't try." They are inspirational words for the 180 Year 11 pupils
IF AN AREA of countryside is officially designated as a no-go zone for developers, then, surely, that's how it should remain. Yet despite the stretch of land between Pike Hill and Worsthorne in Burnley being formally classed in the council's Local Plan
DEREK Fletcher Bowling Handicap at Dobbies S & S Club. Start at 12.30pm with the final on Sunday, May 25 at 1pm. Prize money is £1,580 with £400 to the winner. SATURDAY, MAY 17 M. Lanaghan (Little Lever) v J. A. Conroy (Moston); D. Smith (Derby),
OUR granddaughter and myself visited Thwaites Empire Theatre for the film 'Chicago' last Saturday. We had looked forward to seeing it. Only one hour into the film I felt rather ill and had to leave the theatre. In the foyer recovering, helpers Olive and
WE hear so much about speed on the Grane Road, and the number of accidents that have occurred. But some people don't learn. We were travelling over the road on Saturday May 3, keeping a decent speed, when we were coming towards a bad bend, only to see
REGARDING Tom Sargent's comments on evolution and creationism (Letters, April 29) in common with millions of others, I was taught to believe in a god, but when I reached the age of eleven, I began to realise that what I was being taught didn't stand up
A DISABLED pensioner was rescued by neighbours after a massive explosion rocked the area and left next door engulfed in flames. Crowds joined police and firefighters to break into the home of bed-ridden pensioner Ethel Watson and pull her free as fire
AN INQUIRY has been launched after it was claimed that Blackburn's two warring bus firms were not sticking to their timetables. And if the investigation finds that the firms - Blackburn Borough Transport and new start-up firm Catchmebus.com - are operating
THE key stats and moments from the game against Spurs. ROVERS: FRIEDEL: Made a couple of key saves but he was a virtual spectator for large chunks of the game...8 NEILL: Got booked early on but kept his composure brilliantly with a disciplined defensive
EAST Lancashire MPs today revealed their horror after a 20-year-old advice worker had pleaded guilty to "grooming" a 13-year-old schoolgirl who called a Lancashire County Council helpline. Hyndburn's Greg Pope questioned why 20-year-old Martin Tibbet
THE Burnley aunt of missing youngster Daniel Entwistle today spoke of the family's fear for the youngster and said: "We just want him home." Cath Entwistle, 40, of Bevington Close, Burnley, said the whole family were living in limbo waiting for news of
SHAKERS supremo Andy Preece insists his player rotation gamble will pay dividends when the play-off finalists are determined on Tuesday night. Preece rested no fewer than six first team stars for last week's 3-0 defeat to Wrexham -- a result which pushed
LITTLE Ryan Padgett may be confined to a wheelchair, but thanks to a charity he is about to have a lifetime wish come true. Ryan, nine, of Barrowford, suffers from Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy, an inherited disorder which leads to progressive muscle weakness
A WOMAN who ran an illegal scrapyard has been fined £2,000 by the Environment Agency Mary Smith, formerly known as Mary Varey, pleaded guilty to two charges at Hyndburn Magistrates Court and was also ordered to pay £600 towards costs. Estelle Palin, prosecuting
OWNERS of a controversial club are celebrating after being granted a late drinks licence on appeal. Oaklea Club will now be allowed to serve drinks until 12.30am after magistrates sitting in Burnley Crown Court overturned a decision made in January at
RETIRED motor dealer John Layland was stopped and breathalysed as he drove home from the pub -- in his tractor. And the 67 year old bachelor told a court that he certainly hadn't been stopped for speeding, because the vehicle had a top speed of just 15
THE rural bus that ferried Prince Charles around Ribble Valley during his Royal visit in January has been officially launched. The Bowland Bus Scheme unveiled by Prince Charles at Clitheroe Interchange during his Ribble Valley visit was launched at Chipping
TWO East Lancashire family dynasties have come together to host an open day at a Ribble Valley historic hall. The event, on Sunday, May 18, is being hosted by the Parker family, of Browsholme Hall, Bashall Eaves, and the Bowkers, whose family-owned Bowker
FORMER Clitheroe newsagent Alan Yearing and his wife, Susan, will be the next Mayor and Mayoress of Ribble Valley. The race was on to find a new Ribble Valley mayor after mayor-elect Frank Goss lost his seat at the local elections. Sabden councillor Frank
BROADBAND, ISP, always on access are just a few of the phrases you might cross when you look to find a new Internet service. But if you drop by the ISP Review (www.ispreview.co.uk) website you can get up to date on all the offers available. Here you can
DO you often find yourself typing the same things over and over again on your computer? If a simple task takes you 30 seconds to do and you do it 100 times in a day, that's around an hour of wasted time. What if you could claim that time back and use
A COMFORTABLE 12 point haul sent Chorley to the top of the Northern Premier Cricket League. A facile victory over Blackpool by eight wickets at Stanley Park took Chorley to the summit and they now hold a two-points lead over Darwen, who moved up into
SOUTH African Martin Van Jaarsveld was in irresistible form as Enfield beat Stand by 74 runs in the Inter-League Club Challenge first round. The Enfield professional created the platform to work from as he hit an unbeaten 124 as the visitors set 185-5
A MAN who shinned up a drainpipe and entered a teenager's bedroom in a hostel in the early hours was today starting a 12-month jail term. Burnley Crown Court heard that Graham Furlong, 23, threatened to kill the 17-year-old and grabbed him by the throat
FIFTIES swimming star Jack Whittaker has died at the age of 74. The former butcher's boy, colliery apprentice blacksmith turned Borstal instructor and college lecturer, collapsed in his car after walking the dog during a caravan break with his wife, Gladys
ANY hope the present Labour administration had of justifying its oft-repeated but tarnished pledge to be tough on crime has been scuppered by Home Office lawyers. In a story which beggars belief, they are trying to persuade the judiciary to review laws
THIS stroll begins with a bit of pleasant controversy relating to the name of the White Bear, at Barrowford. Most think that it refers to the fact that an albino bear was baited here. Others, albeit a minority, think that it may have been named after
Leigh Centurions 50 Featherstone Rovers 12 by Mike Hulme LEIGH Centurions are back in business - and mean business. That's the message this result will send to their National League One rivals as they make another attempt to reach Super League. After
TRUANCY patrols are poised to hit the streets for a second time to get schoolchildren back behind their desks. Blackburn and Darwen town centres will be targeted over the coming weeks as part of a nationally co-ordinated truancy sweep. And the Missing
EAST Lancashire MPs today revealed their horror after a 20-year-old advice worker had pleaded guilty to "grooming" a 13-year-old schoolgirl who called a Lancashire County Council helpline. Hyndburn's Greg Pope questioned why 20-year-old Martin Tibbet
OUR SCHOOL: Brennands Endowed, Slaidburn is a thriving village school set in the picturesque Hodder Valley. Although an endowed school, we are also one of the four Lancashire aided schools in the Bradford Diocese. We have two classes, one for each key
A 22-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before Bolton magistrates charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of a Bury man. Richard Bourke, of Pennington, Leigh, was also charged with three counts of dangerous driving, and a charge of obtaining services
