TWO young members of a martial arts club has proved that hard work pays off after gaining junior black belt status. Matthew Challoner and Luke Hayden finally made the grade after seven years of hard training at the Oswaldtwistle branch of the Kuon Ji
RESIDENTS in a Rawtenstall street say they are being terrorised by a group of young teenagers on mini-motorbikes. Homeowners in Holland Avenue say they have made several calls to the police, but to no avail. However police have insisted they are cracking
ROSSENDALE'S internationally acclaimed opera singer has been warming up his vocal chords at Bacup Borough Football Club. Tenor Sean Ruane will herald a new era in football when he sings ahead of Steve McClaren's first competitive game in charge of the
Worsthorne parish council has been informed that the Mayor's Charity Fund is raising money to buy two transnasal oesophagoscopes. It which will be used for the detection and biopsy of early cancer of the upper airways and digestive tract. Once purchased
WALKERS are set to lose a public footpath - thanks to fly tippers. The route of the footpath from Moore Street to the Cats Steps on Lily Street in Nelson was altered after Fort Vale Engineering put up a metal fence to act as a boundary to its property
RECYCLING heroes who go the extra green mile to help save the environment are being sought for an eco-friendly competition. Pencle Borough Council is on the look-out for recycling champions as part of its Cleaner, Greener, Safer campaign. Each year
SHAHID Nawaz has just helped Clitheroe clinch the triple crown, but he has no intention of putting his feet up in the last three matches of the season. The Pakistan professional has announced his intention to retire at the end of the current campaign
A BLACKBURN worker has relived the terrifying moment the plane she was on made an emergency landing after a suspected terrorist was discovered on board. Lorna Newton, 18, was five hours into her flight from Manchester to Chicago on Friday when the plane
THE talents of an amateur photographer snapping a quick picture of a friend have earned her an exhibition place at the National Portrait Gallery. Lynn Boothman's first attempt at photography is now on display at London's prestigious art gallery as part
A Blackburn woman with Multiple Sclerosis "wants to open the Asian community's eyes" about the growing threat of developing the neurological condition. Sarvat Khan, 34, from the Brookhouse area of the town, who was diagnosed with the condition 10 years
CHANNEL Four appears to have cornered the market in people who would appear to have no shame. From Wife Swap to How to Look Good Naked it would seem that members of the public are queuing up to get on the box - only for the rest of us to be left wondering
I WOULD like to respond to Raymond Smalley's reply to my letter on statins (August 2 and 8). Over the years I too have had cause to be grateful to staff in the medical profession, but this does not mean I shut my eyes and accept at face value recommendations
I WAS delighted to read commonsense has prevailed and that demolition of houses in the Redearth Triangle of Darwen has been suspended. I applaud and congratulate the remaining residents in their valiant fight for their community. I went on to read
BLACKBURN Central Library will stage an open day next month to celebrate Local History Month. Staff at the library are launching the recent acquisition of new "antique library" resource by holding the open day on September 29, where visitors will be
A ROMANIAN police chief walked the beat in East Lancashire in a bid to learn from local officers. Major Mihai Isvoranu, 54, the chief attorney in the Romanian town of Comanesti, met police and community leaders in Accrington and Oswaldtwistle. Insp
A DARWEN mother who started a new life on the Costa del Sol has died just days before returning home for a 50th birthday party. Barbara Ainscough fell ill and collapsed on her birthday and never made it home for the party, being organised by her two
A DEDICATED recycler is taking a stand against council spies' after discovering Big Brother has been watching him via his rubbish. Simon Boardman found two silicone chips embedded in his bin lids after reading about the computer technology. Councils
EAST Lancashire parents are not paying over the odds for school uniforms, cloth-ing suppliers and school lead-ers have insisted. The Office of Fair Trading has written to 10,000 schools to find out whether their uniform policy allows a choice of where
AN ex-footballer star who had an injury-free career was ruled out of appearing at East Lancashire's big music festival - by a double hernia. Kevin Hird, 51, was left feeling blue after having to abandon his appearance at the Great British Rhythm and
POLICE have launched a murder-style investigation after a man died in a suspected arson attack at a house in Nelson. The body of alcoholic Damian Heyslop, 35, was found in the bathroom of the house in Beaufort Street, Nelson, by firefighters called to
FOUR chefs settled an argument over who cooks the best chilli by holding a cook-off in Blackburn to raise money for charity. The public were asked to sample and vote for their favourite chilli at the event at the Chilli Lime Deli in Fleming Square, Blackburn
WHO ate all the pies? Visitors to Ewood Park that's who, after Holland's, the region's pie and savoury pastry manufacturer, became the official pie supplier of Blackburn Rovers. For the next four years, Rovers' fans will be tucking into delights like
Kyle Lafferty deserves another mention. Not only has he scored his first international goal for Northern Ireland but he's off the mark for Burnley this season. As a goalscorer, to get off the mark is the most important thing and that goal at Palace has
Blackburn Rovers defender Andy Todd was set to have showdown talks with Hughes today about the decision to axe him for Sunday's game against Chelsea. Todd was reported to be furious after Hughes dropped him in favour of recent signing Andre Ooijer.
BLACKBURN Rovers boss Mark Hughes is looking to strengthen his squad before tomorrow's transfer deadline. Despite making five signings already this summer, Hughes is still in the market for new players as he gears up for what he hopes will be a lengthy
Veteran Burnley defender John McGreal is staying at Turf Moor despite interest from his former club Ipswich Town. Blues manager Jim Magilton targeted McGreal on loan and hoped to tie up a deal before tomorrow's transfer deadline, but Clarets boss Steve
A RIBBLE Valley charity challenge has seen the first flurries of funding past the post. Members of Clitheroe chamber of trade were quick off the mark after the High Sheriff of Lancashire issued a fundraising challenge in aid of the Clitheroe Castle Heritage
THE mother of a child sex grooming victim today begged social services to move her daughter out of the county for her own protection. The council defended its decision not to send children away but the mother-of-three said she believed her 15-year-old
AN East Lancashire canon has likened the London Bombers' religious passion to that of Christian crusaders. The comments of Canon Philip Gray, chaplain to the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, have split opinion. But church ministers and
A BLACKBURN teenager who burgled two addresses while on a suspended sentence has been sentenced to 12 months youth custody. David Biggs also took a car from outside one of the addresses, having found the keys in the house. The offences were committed
A PROLIFIC criminal who robbed a terrified Lidl cashier at knifepoint has been jailed for four years eight months. Kieran Devlin, 21, who had been released from jail only a month before, snatched £166 from a till in desperation after he was threatened
EWOOD new-boy Jason Roberts reckons Blackburn Rovers are heading in the right direction - despite their faltering start to the season. A disappointing haul of just one point from the opening three matches has left Mark Hughes's side propping up the rest
EIGHT points from a possible 15 is a good return for the Clarets. I would have taken that before the start of the season. Saturday's draw at Crystal Palace was a great result. We've a good record at Selhurst Park - I remember thinking that in previous
ACCRINGTON Stanley will not be making any panic buys ahead of tomorrow's transfer deadline. Boss John Coleman revealed the club was talking to one or two players about a last-minute move to the Fraser Eagle Stadium. And while he admitted he would like
ALAN Mahon is hoping to win promotion to the Premiership with Burnley - and stay there! The Republic of Ireland ace knows what it takes to reach the highest level but lady luck has dealt him a rough deal once he has reached the promised land. Twice
A HISTORIC mill's bid to win £2million has been adopted by civic leaders around the North West. Higherford Mill at Barrowford will feature on BBC2's Restoration Village next Friday night and in the run up to the programme supporters will set off on a
COLNE and Nelson residents are being urged to have their say over whether they want town councils. Pendle Borough Council is exploring the possibility of setting up a town council for Nelson and another for Colne. Letters about the town council plan
Calderdale Council's planning committee have imposed restrictions on a new amusement arcade in Todmorden. The former Bridge Cafe, in Burnley Road, had its hours of opening curtailed to 8am to 6pm, while councillors insisted insulation be introduced to
A TEENAGER who stored and cut up a haul of crack cocaine in his bedroom was today starting a 12-months term of detention. Omer Saddique, 17, got involved to make a bit of cash on the side and police also found almost £1,400 - his wages from more sophisticated
CHRISTIAN values have helped the children at Todmorden Church of England School to progress in their learning, care of others and general good behaviour, according to Ofsted inspectors. They visited the school, in Burnley Road, in June and their report
RIBBLE Film Club kicks off its new season on Sunday at 7.30pm at the St Mary's Centre, Parish Hall, Church Street, Clitheroe. The first film is Dominick Moll's Lemming and leaflets describing the next 12 films are available from Ribble Valley Council
A PATIENT was left frustrated after a 14-day wait for results of a chest X-ray at Royal Blackburn Hospital. Les Johnson, 54, of the Radford Street area in Darwen, acted on the advice of his doctor when he attended the hospital for a chest X-ray on August
By Hugh Davies, Burnley Road, Accrington. Vijaykumar is his name, Mending eyes is his game A professional perfectionist, a very clever guy A genius on vision, the Beardwood private eye. I've known him now for nine years and two eyes, Thanks
I COULD not help noticing the vast difference between a fine for careless driving, attempted rape, robbing a convenience store, or stealing from an old age pensioner and the fine of up to £5,000 on a pub landlord if he shows his customers a football
POLICE are warning of possible disruption to traffic across the county as the Tour of Britain Cycle Race travels through Lancashire today. The race starts at 10.30am in Blackpool Town Centre but the route will take the race through the Trough of Bowland
LONG serving staff at a Blackburn defence firm have clocked up a total of 163 years service between them. The four staff at Cobham Defence Communications, Haslingden Road, were honoured by a visit from the firm's chief executive, Allan Cook, who praised
THE Parachute Regiment, one of the Army's most identifiable and distinguished regiments, is creating a new training base for the North West. The regiment is looking for new recruits to join the Territorial Army platoon of approximately 45 soldiers. As
A 21-YEAR-OLD Blackburn woman said goodbye to her blonde bob and shaved her head to raise money for a cancer charity. Sam Evans, who works for Business Post, decided to take part in a charity head shave after her step-dad was struck down with cancer.
Tackling child exploitation online is to take a step forward with the launch of a campaign to advise children about how to use the internet safely. The initiative will encourage children to report any inappropriate behaviour they encounter in internet
A headteacher is celebrating after reaching the final of a UK songwriting contest. And today, Brian Beresford revealed how he hopes his triumph is one in the eye for the "instantly forgettable" music being used in the UK's schools. Mr Beresford, head
THE quick thinking of staff and shoppers prevented a serious blaze at a supermarket after pranksters set fire to a toilet roll display. Two youngsters were seen messing around with lighters at the Lidl store on Hyndburn Road, Accrington, shortly before
Eating while driving can be as potentially risky as using a hand held mobile phone at the wheel, according to research. Brunel University put 26 participants in a simulator on an urban route, once without eating and once while eating from a bag of wrapped
HARSH Times is one of those gritty urban tales that's almost impossible to define. While some may see it as a buddy movie, others might describe it as a film about the degeneration of a callous LA harbouring few opportunities and many dangers. However
THE parents of a toddler who died from leukaemia today spoke of their grief and said: "No parent should have to go through this." Mark Armstrong and Gail Perkins said they could not believe their second child, Ethan, had been taken by the disease two
A VIGILANTE anti-speed camera group today warned it was targeting devices in East Lancashire. Motorists Against Detection (MAD) is led by campaigns director Captain Gatso, who has gained national notoriety disguising his identity wearing a Tony Blair
UP to 1,600 jobs will be created if plans to build a business park on green field land in Pendle finally get the go-ahead. A resubmitted planning application has been put in by Peel Investments North to build the development on 24 acres of land between
A MOTHER-of-three who said she was single to swindle £21,000 in benefits was busted when she appeared in front of millions of viewers on cult TV programme Wife Swap. Now Becky Fairhurst, of Derby Street, Colne, is facing prison and the prospect of having
