SMALL firms in Lancashire are spending too much time on paperwork, according to a survey. Bosses of firms employing less than 25 employees in the area spend an average of a third of their working day carrying out administration. But only 17 per cent of
A CANADIAN firm has given council bosses a pat on the back for helping them set up in Blackburn. Excellpak Packaging Inc, which cuts and finishes borders for the wallpaper industry, set up a subsidiary based at a 15,000 sq ft manufacturing plant on the
TODDLER David Connor astounded his parents with a strange talent - spotting Volvo cars at 20 yards. The 22-month-old youngster's first word was not 'mama' or 'dadda', but the name of the Swedish car manufacturer. And on a road test round a town centre
AROUND 50 temporary staff have been axed by one of East Lancashire's biggest employers. The job losses at Imperial Home Decor - better known as Crown Wallcoverings - in Darwen have been blamed on continuing problems with the strength of the pound and
A DRAMATIC midnight transplant failed to save the life of TV star Russell Harty, who died in hospital in Leeds. The Blackburn-born broadcaster died from liver failure and hepatitis, which he was believed to have contracted while filming in Europe. Doctors
FORMER Clarets star and Northern Ireland international Jimmy McIlroy swapped a football for a tennis ball as he officially unveiled a £146,000 refurbishment scheme which has proved "ace" with local players. Burnley Lawn Tennis Club's brand new facilities
WITH sons named Jack and Walker, you would think football fan Jim Ray was a regular among the Ewood Park faithful. But the family's transatlantic love affair with Ewood Park only began after a browse on the Internet discovered the matching names. Jim,
FIREBUG children are being suspected after a massive mill blaze took 50 firefighters four hours to put out. Investigations into the blaze at the three-storey former Lodge Fabrics warehouse in the centre of Rawtenstall were continuing today and the fire
CARL Fogarty had a face like a wet weekend after round five of the World Superbike championship at the Nurburgring on Sunday. The Blackburn ace struggled with appalling wet conditions to finish 13th in both races and stand 26 points behind championship
LANCASHIRE Ambulance Service has launched a major investigation into a claim that paramedics refused to take a 20-year-old woman with meningitis to hospital. Widow Pearl Yates, of Exchange Street, Accrington, dialled 999 after discovering her daughter
THE case of Mark Barnes, who spent two weeks in prison for offences he did not commit, is disturbing. Stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein, who dismissed all charges after the allegedly stolen property was found at the accuser's flat, said the matter
GERRY Harrison is ready to commit himself to Burnley - if the price is right. Harrison has been offered a two-year deal and is keen to stay with the Clarets. A representative for the player has spoken with new Burnley boss Stan Ternent and it appears
FIRMS in East Lancashire are being offered the lowdown on the single currency as the countdown to its launch begins. The Chamber of Commerce believes many firms are not prepared for the impact of other countries in Europe joining EMU on January 1 next
CHURCH workers hoping to extend a lifeline to drug addicted mothers held a presentation day to explain their mission in Blackburn. The Wellspring Project, formed in 1997, aims to set up Lancashire's first residential rehabilitation unit for women with
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has taken his campaign to get recognition for World Environment Day from local to central Government. Last week he wrote to every local authority in Lancashire urging them to embrace the principles of the day. These include
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy set a bed alight while his sister was sleeping on it. Matthew Aspin started the fire with a lighter at the family's home in Spring View, Blackburn. His seven-year-old sister Chloe's bed immediately caught fire. Chloe escaped unharmed
Northern League A SUPERB all round performance by Nigel Heaton set up a comfortable victory for Chorley by six wickets at Darwen in the Abbot Ale Cup yesterday. Despite a punchy 35 from opener Chris Lowe, Darwen were always struggling for runs. Heaton's
Vaux Ribblesdale League RAIN wrecked Saturday's league programme in the Vaux Ribblesdale League. Many games were poised for close finishes when thunderstorms struck across the district. Settle professional Surendra Bhave scored 101 not out with Mark Verden
AN experienced climber fell to his death on holiday in Spain while tackling a ridge which was regarded as a very easy climb, an inquest heard. Carlo Giuseppe Vigano, also known as Charlie Owens, was scrambling without ropes up the Bernia Ridge near Alicante
DAV WHATMORE hailed another face-saving contribution from Neil Fairbrother after the veteran rescued Lancashire at Northants. "His experience and confidence is remarkable," said Whatmore. "He knows exactly what to do in tight situations and he brought
Barrow Border Raiders 12 Lancashire Lynx 22 LYNX completed their fourth away victory of the season with an impressive victory at Craven Road that takes Kevin Tamati's men into second place. Barrow were previously unbeaten at home, but a combination of
AS an ex-Englishman, I am a collector of British Army cap badges and wonder if readers can supply information on one which was among some I bought recently. It is metal, brown in colour, with the King's crown, three royal lions in the centre and a Lancashire
Lancashire League: Burnley 82, Nelson 171-4 dec FOR ALL Roger Harper's heroics at Bacup in a eight-year stay that yielded 8,600 runs and 610 wickets, the Lancashire League title never returned to Lanehead during his tenure of office, writes PETE OLIVER
AN INNOCENT man jailed for two weeks for offences he didn't commit claims he has lost his home and friends because of his ordeal. Mark Barnes, 21, blamed police for not doing their job when a neighbour accused him of burglary and assault. "They just locked
ACTIONAID Week starts today and I will be one of thousands of volunteers placing envelopes in friends' and neighbours' doors, selling raffle tickets, and calling with collection boxes to ask for donations. I support ActionAid because it helps communities
MATT Wilson experienced a bizarre day of highs and lows for Rawtenstall against Bacup. Wilson was forced to go to hospital during the Bacup innings when, while pushing the sightscreen, he trapped his foot. But he was able to return to the ground in time
I HAVE a very young stray cat which followed children from near their mosque one evening, but despite extensive inquiries its owners have not been traced. May I remind readers that suitable, good, caring homes are hard to come by? Responsible pet ownership
A FRIEND of ours, when going on holiday, usually put her dog and cat in the local kennels. Towards the end of the holiday fortnight, some people had been for their pets and the kennels people were checking up on how many of the pets were left. It was
I MUST apologise to R Johnson (Letters, May 29) for my arrogance and ignorance in wrongly blaming the Labour Party for the Jobseeker's Allowance - an error caused by misreading my own notes as to the date of its introduction. My friend, who lost his job
MOST people agree that the time for change in the House of Lords is long overdue. But they are split on what those changes should entail. The Government's proposal, to be announced today, to remove the voting rights of hereditary peers without setting
THE expression: "If your case is a bad one, belt the other side," underpins the headline 'Clapped-out' on Bill Jacobs' article on the Shadow Cabinet (LET, May 29), which he justified on grounds that they were leaders of the defeated government. What was
Looking Back, with Eric Leaver THIS WEEK sees an anniversary that old folk in East Lancashire have good reason to remember - of the night 67 years ago when they were in bed and the earth moved. No, it's not what you're thinking. What sent the bed springs
