I AM afraid for Blackburn. I love Blackburn, though at times I wonder why, for we seem hell-bent on making a cock-up of it. The lovely Cathedral, our lovely Cathedral, is now in the middle of two wastelands -- the Boulevard and Church Street. That must
A "UNIQUE" teacher supply agency set up as a public-private partnership was lauched yesterday. Lancashire County Council has teamed up with teacher training institution Edge Hill College and Reed Education Professionals to create the Lancashire Teaching
BIRD watchers believe a buzzard could be behind two mystery sightings of a large bird of prey in Blackburn. Steve Loxham, of Feniscliffe Drive, said he spotted a creature 2,000 feet in the air around 2.30pm on Sunday. The Rev John Cree, vicar of St Lawrence's
A HARASSMENT officer working for Blackburn Racial Equality Council has lost her job for assaulting a colleague. It is understood the Asian woman is looking at ways of appealing against the decision, made following an inquiry involving the REC and Blackburn
NICE letter from Jeff Stone (Letters, August 20), but we all know it's a waste of time because the planners won't take a blind bit of notice of anybody ideas or suggestions. There doesn't seem to be much activity at the end of Barbara Castle Way either
I AM sure the vast majority of law abiding Blackburn citizens will agree with your headline, Enough is Enough, referring to the yob element that appear to go unchecked in the town centre. To my mind there are three main reasons for this: 1. This anti-social
AS regards the proposed closure of several nursing and residential homes I feel that I must say a VALID word . While being the first to admit that all of the old people's residences (their HOMES) are not perfect I must defend them. Apparently someone
BURY Horticultural Society will stage its first annual open show over two days this weekend. And also for the first time , the event will be staged at a new building at the town's Walnut Avenue allotments. The Society has established strong links with
FIREFIGHTERS had to climb down 20 feet into a sewer to rescue two dogs. A woman was walking her dogs on Sunday (Sept 1) on open land next to Orchard Drive in Bury when her two Staffordshire bull terriers suddenly disappeared. She then realised that her
VILLAGERS in Edenfield are being urged to air their views on plans to site a wind farm in their area. United Utilities and Peel Holdings are investigating the possibility of developing such a farm on the moors between Edenfield and Whitworth in Rochdale
FRIENDS of the Earth has called on Bury Council to take another positive lead in environmental issues by adopting a policy on air travel. The local authority is part owner of Manchester Airport and was recently congratulated by the Government for being
A £1MILLION scheme aimed at rejuvenating a rundown area of Burnley has hit a snag after elderly residents said: "We don't want to move". The clearance proposals will take three years and will involve demolishing more than 50 houses around Grey Street,
VICTIMS of drunken assaults will be able to seek "sanctuary" in town centre pubs. Special rooms are to be set aside offering casualties a safe area to wait for medical treatment and have access to a phone line to contact and inform their families of what
NORTHERN Ireland winger Keith Gillespie will get the chance to press his claims for a first team recall when Rovers reserves take on Newcastle United tonight. Gillespie will start against his former club in the game at Morecambe's Christie Park after
BLACKBURN midfielder David Dunn today backed Sven Goran Eriksson's decision to call up Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate for England's friendly with Portugal at the weekend. Dunn had been touted for a possible place in the 20-man squad for the game at
A MAN found with crack cocaine was looking for a "thrill" the night before he was due to go to jail, a court heard. Burnley magistrates were told how Derek Kearney, 34, was chased by police after he appeared to be passed something out of a car. Kearney
JAPANESE students have been enjoying lessons at a Burnley high school as part of an exchange programme designed to educate pupils about different cultures and customs. The four Japanese children and their teacher winged their way from Tohoku Senior High
KIDNAPPERS are holding a Burnley company to ransom after they snatched their 6ft Harry the Hippo mascot in a daring daylight raid. The owners of the Briercliffe Bed Centre, where the toy has lived for the past four years, have launched a desperate appeal
A MAN who terrorised job centre staff and a probation officer has walked free from court. Burnley Magistrates Court heard how "unstable," Mark Fennell, 26, told Burnley Jobcentre employee Doreen Eastwood he had a gun, threatened to blow the office up
A £1MILLION scheme aimed at rejuvenating a rundown area of Burnley has hit a snag after elderly residents said: "We don't want to move". The clearance proposals will take three years and will involve demolishing more than 50 houses around Grey Street,
GARETH Seddon is expected to make a big step nearer full fitness by turning out for the reserves at Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday evening.
BURY'S second string have made a slow start to the Avon Insurance Premier Division, but Andy Preece believes the tough competition can be the making of his young players. Last Wednesday's 4-1 mauling by a strong Barnsley side followed hard on the heels
GEORGE Clegg's hamstring scare that kept him out of the Boston match on Saturday will continue to be monitored. "We had put George's name on the teamsheet so when he felt his hamstring kicking in we decided not to risk him," added Preece. "Boston were
A COLLECTION of historical documents relating to Higherford Mill in Barrowford will be on display to the public during the Heritage Open Days on September 14 and 15. They were recently donated to the Heritage Trust for the North West by a relative of
SIX key priority group's have been established to drive forward the work of Pendle's Local Strategic Partnership. The groups cover education and lifelong learning, the economy, the environment, health, housing and social inclusion but crime and community
WELL it's a start. A very small start admittedly -- but a start nonetheless. And, in times of hardship, you've got to look for the positives. Despite the dire standard of football on offer down at Turf Moor on Saturday, there were one or two pluses to
SOARING drug abuse in East Lancashire threatened to swamp community workers' efforts to tackle the menace, it was revealed. During 1991 the number of people referred for specialist treatment in the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley health districts
STRONGMAN Billy Hodge, from Oswaldtwistle, feels the strain as he battles it out in a bid to become Rossendale Strongman 2002. The event at the Jester Inn, Crawshawbooth, attracted competitors from as far as Ireland, Northampton and Wolverhampton, as
A DEAL to bring a national pub chain to Accrington is set to be signed in the next three weeks. JD Wetherspoon say their third attempt to open a venue in the town should be completed and contracts exchanged within that timescale. Previous deals, which
A PIECE of Accrington's entertainment history is set to go under the hammer. The former Lar De Dars nightclub, on Eagle Street, Accrington, will be among lots for sale at a property auction tomorrow . It has been closed for eight months but was part of
PUPILS at a school undergoing a £4million-plus transformation are set to return to their classes next week despite delays in completing the work. A new building has been constructed at Accrington's Moorhead High School to unite the former split-site school
BURNLEY'S young players beat Rochdale 2-1 in a friendly game on Saturday but it was a match that several of Terry Pashley's squad missed. One of those, 18-year-old Matty O'Neill, admitted: "I had played four games in 12 days so I had a rest but as soon
STAN Ternent may be struggling with a small squad but there is likely to be a fierce battle for the centre back positions ahead of the match with Derby County. The return of Arthur Gnohere from suspension coincides with the continued recovery of Steve
A PUB in Mellor has invited all wannabe pop singers and pub idols to take part in their popular weekly karaoke challenge. The Bay Horse Inn, on Longsight Road, Osbaldeston, runs the night every Saturday and Sunday from 8pm. The evenings are open to everyone
BURY FC car sponsors Horners are offering some good deals for followers of the Gigg Lane club. If anyone produces a copy of one of this season's matchday programme when purchasing a new or used car from the company Horners will donate £50 to the club.
THE Lomax Arms' line up of entertainment for the first two Saturday's in September has been finalised. And the Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, pub has made it a local affair with the booking of two singers originally from the Hyndburn town. Saturday September
MORE than 20 East Lancashire pubs took part in a national survey that revealed nearly two thirds of publicans want licensing decisions to stay with magistrates The survey questioned 450 Punch Pub Company pubs across England and Wales and found that 72
A RAMSBOTTOM man is spending two weeks at a luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi. But it's strictly business for top management consultant David Parrish who is advising the Abu Dhabi Grand Hotel on how to develop its business even more successfully when it becomes
STAN Ternent may be struggling with a small squad but there is likely to be a fierce battle for the centre back positions ahead of the match with Derby County. The return of Arthur Gnohere from suspension coincides with the continued recovery of Steve
PRESTON North End's game against Wolves at Molyneux on Sunday has been postponed because of international call-ups. Wolverhampton Wanderers have six players called up for the international weekend and have decided to postpone what is a vital fixture for
FRIENDS of Sunnyhurst Woods are planning more fund-raising events after being overwhelmed by people's concern over the flood-ravaged Darwen beauty spot. A dozen members of the residents' group took to the streets of Darwen town centre armed with charity
THIS year's tenth anniversary Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show is being used as a launch pad for an environmental shake-up in the borough. Rossendale Council is launching its on site recycling scheme at the show to encourage people think green before
FA Cup preliminary round: Clitheroe...1 Radcliffe Borough...3 RADCLIFFE BOROUGH carefully stepped over this potential banana skin with an impressive victory at Shawbridge on Saturday. Clitheroe, a team that has caused Kevin Glendon's men problems in the
BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw today backed the drive to throw drunken trouble-makers off Blackburn's Boulevard. And the town's MP wants to see the police take tough steps to prevent yobs spoiling the borough's shop window. He gave his full backing to the Lancashire
THERE are literally hundreds of decent, hardworking and honourable people in football. A large number of these individuals are also very skilful and talented. Why, then, are the likes of Roy Keane sought after for quotes and comments? The same is true
A COUNCIL is on collision course with the Government after protesting that it is being sent too many asylum seekers. And Blackburn with Darwen Council has said the situation proves the dispersal system introduced by local MP Jack Straw when he was Home
I TOTALLY support John Williams' view that Rovers need to attract 30,000 on a regular basis. I was staggered to see so many empty seats at Ewood for the opening game of the season. However, I do think the club could help by reducing ticket prices to attract
CLITHEROE Football Club have pulled off a major coup by hosting 'An audience with Kevin Keegan and Carlo Nash'. The Manchester City manager and the former Blues keeper will be appearing at Shawbridge on Thursday October 24. "I just can't believe it,"
DARWEN manager Steve Wilkes is desperate for his side to break their derby duck when Colne visit the Anchor Ground tonight. Wilkes is bemoaning the fact that, in the past few seasons, every time they face one of their local rivals Darwen seem to blow
BOSS Andy Preece was an angry man after seeing Shakers concede a late equaliser at Boston. "We haven't been able to kill a game off, it's just not good enough," he said. "We should be top of this league, not mid-table. We've got to learn to play for 93
BOSTON UNITED 1, SHAKERS 1: A LAST minute equaliser meant that Bury had to settle for a point when they really should have taken all three at league newcomers Boston United writes JAMES BENTLEY. The Shakers always had the best of a hard fought game despite
ONCE again, as demonstrated so admirably last season, Bury showed their inability to keep playing to the final whistle - this time with exasperating consequences writes James Bentley After playing reasonably well for 90 minutes, a simple lapse in concentration
RESIDENTS were evacuated from their homes after an arson attack at a factory that filled the air with toxic fumes. Moments before the blaze, youths had been spotted playing in a storage yard at the rear of the Cooper Clarke Vanguard engineering factory
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. BBC Antiques RoadShow -- hosted by Michael Aspel, Roefield Leisure Centre, Clitheroe, 9.30am-4.30pm. St Lawrence with St Paul PCC Standing Committee meet The Vicarage
HOW Britain contends with its flood of asylum seekers is a manifestly vexed problem, but the government's programme will, surely, provide little relief if it only ends up with considerable concentrations of them in new locations rather than even-handed
WALSHAW were ecstatic after clinching their first ever Cross Cup victory on Sunday, but were made to work for their win against a determined Elton side. Elton batted first and reached a total of 144, which did not look as though it would be good enough
FA Cup preliminary round: Ramsbottom United...3, Chadderton...0 RAMSBOTTOM UNITED cruised into the next round of the FA Cup after encountering some slightly choppy periods against the youngsters from Chadderton. The Rams applied some early pressure and
FREE rail passes are up for grabs for anyone who takes part in a survey of Lancashire train stations. The Adopt a Station scheme asks volunteers to check such things as announcements, public telephones, cleanliness and staff courtesy. For more information
PUPILS across East Lancashire faced disruption when they returned to school today because new teachers were not being allowed into classrooms. The teachers were unable to start work because the Criminal Records Bureau has not cleared a deluge of vetting
MOTORISTS' lives were put at risk when a thief drove a stolen skip wagon through Blackburn town centre on a busy afternoon. Police were forced to abandon their pursuit of the Heavy Goods Vehicle -- which was not carrying a skip at the time -- after deciding
CONGRATULATIONS to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. After holding the record for having the most holes in the road they have now merited entry in the Guinness Book of Records for having the most expensive car park in the country. It cost £2.5 million
A PUBLIC inquiry into plans for a Leigh guided busway starts next week. Following the visit of a government appointed inquiry inspector to Tyldesley to meet with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and local people, a date has been set for
RADCLIFFE based Euro MP Gary Titley has set his sights on the peak of continental party politics with a bid to lead Labour's European group. The declaration to stand for the vacancy follows the resignation of parliamentary leader Simon Murphy, with the
PLANS to shake up electoral boundaries will be on the agenda when the Bury West area board meets on Wednesday (Sept 4), The meeting is at Lowercroft CP School in Ashington Drive, Bury, starting at 7pm. Chairman Councillor Jack Walton said: "There are
A COUNCIL is on collision course with the Government after protesting that it is being sent too many asylum seekers. And Blackburn with Darwen Council has said the situation proves the dispersal system introduced by local MP Jack Straw when he was Home
LEIGH Centurions will send a below-strength team to Hull KR tonight but are still confident of extending their winning sequence to 12 games. Coach Paul Terzis is likely to give some of his big guns the night off now the NFP runners-up spot is safely in
Southport v Leigh RMI preview by Martyn Hindley STEVE Waywell will tonight return to the scene of Leigh RMI's greatest humiliation, claiming that the experience was not as calamitous as it sounds. RMI were made odds-on favourites for the drop last January
ROVERS keeper Ryan Robinson has gone on a week's trail with Second Division outfit Wigan Athletic. Latics boss Paul Jewell is looking for cover for former Ewood favourite John Filan and he has taken the opportunity to look at Robinson with a view to a
BLACKBURN midfielder David Dunn has been called into the England squad for the friendly against Portugal at Villa Park on Saturday. Sven-Goran Eriksson has drafted the 22-year-old into his party following the withdrawal of Newcastle's Kieron Dyer and
BURNLEY firefighters were called out by the RSPCA after a cat was spotted stuck on a house roof for several days. A crew was called to the detached house in Harefield Rise at 10am yesterday and found the cat stranded about 30ft up on the roof. A ladder
AT THE recent meeting of Cliviger Parish Council a number of planning applications were considered. These included a proposed new garage at Middle Bull's Head, extension to porch and bedroom at 6 Richmond Avenue and extension to garage and workshop at
BURNLEY'S most popular bingo caller has done it again -- earning himself a place in the Northern Regional Final of the Bingo Caller of the Year competition. Brian Gillatt, 42, who lives in Burnley, is hoping it will be third time lucky after reaching
THE Commission for Health Improvement will throw the spotlight on patient care in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale with the help of public comment. The CHI is about to begin a routine assessment of services at Burnley Health Care NHS Trust next week, which
BURY FC's three new directors were welcomed onto the Gigg Lane board at the club's Annual General Meeting last Thursday evening writes PHIL THORP. Ian Harrop, from the Save Our Shakers Trust, Roger Barlow, representing Forever Bury and Jim Lomas from
REGULARS at the Forest Inn in Fence are being assured that the pub will continue to open, despite maintenance work nearby. Lancashire County Council said it would be business as usual while essential maintenance work was carried out in the B6248 Cuckstool
NOT many teenagers get to record their own CD but for Colne youngster Georgina Varey that was the prize for winning a unique version of TV's Pop Idol competition. Georgina, 15, of Colne won the final of Park High School's Park Idol contest, which has
ONCE again, as demonstrated so admirably last season, Bury showed their inability to keep playing to the final whistle - this time with exasperating consequences writes James Bentley After playing reasonably well for 90 minutes, a simple lapse in concentration
A MAN aged 21 was bound over at Burnley Magistrates Court, after trouble erupted between gangs in Brierfield, last Friday. Ifzal Hussain, of Carlton Street, had ended up at hospital after the violence and told police he was totally innocent, the court
CHILDREN at a pre-school in Brierfield may have to look elsewhere for somewhere to play if councillors refuse permission for an outside play area. An application has been submitted to Pendle Council to enclose a piece of grassed land outside Brierfield
RESIDENTS living in two neighbouring communities blighted when trouble broke out between two groups over the weekend today condemned the activities and said "We will not tolerate this behaviour". Pendle Council is to join forces with residents in Brierfield
LET'S forget Saturday's freak result for a second. On Thursday I was just pondering the reasons why (thanks to Uncle Jack) it's such a great time to be a Blackburn Rovers fan. We'd just drawn against one of the top three sides in the Country whilst playing
A CHARITY football match in memory of a former Accrington businessman has raised £1,000 before it has been played. John Booth died of cancer in January at the age of 49, and former team-mates at Oswaldtwistle Rovers/Rangers are gearing up to raise funds
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy is "wheely" happy, thanks to kind-hearted pupils at St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst. They raised £2,000 to enable Adam Holden to purchase an electric wheelchair so that he can move around unaided when he starts Penwortham County Primary
THE Steve Ferringo Band is the star attraction at a Shakers Party Night to be held at the town's Chicago Rock Cafe on Wednesday, October 2. Tickets are priced £2 (or pay on the door) with a limited number of VIP tickets available which include admission
A BLACKBURN bar has opened with a new look and new name after a £50,000 refit. The Fuel Bar, formerly known as Chocolate, opened nine months after its manager Scott Moon lost his public entertainment licence for his Cubes venue next door. He lost the
BLACKBURN midfielder David Dunn has been called into the England squad for the friendly against Portugal at Villa Park on Saturday. Sven-Goran Eriksson has drafted the 22-year-old into his party following the withdrawal of Newcastle's Kieron Dyer and
MEMBERS of Darwen Townswomen's Guild are celebrating the group's 50th anniversary. Thursday's guest speaker will be Peter Wakeling, a goldsmith, who will talk about his work and bring some examples. There will be a celebratory cake to be made by two members
BIG Brother may start watching schools in Darwen every weekend after a pioneering CCTV system led to trouble-free grounds throughout summer. Cameras monitored all but three of the town's schools 24 hours a day throughout the six-week break. Insp Graham
A MOBILE belfry proved a real crowd puller at Helmshore Textile Museums when more than 500 people got the chance to ring the changes. Visitor services officer Catherine Pearson invited the Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry to attend the museums after the
BRAVE Samuel Greaves is out of traction and on the road to making a full recovery after a road accident near his home in July. Three-year-old Samuel dashed across the road outside his home when he heard the ice cream van stop in New Line, Bacup. He ran
TWO businesses in Ramsbottom have been left without gas for four days after a high pressure water main burst and severed a plastic gas pipe. The burst in an 8ins water main bored a hole in the plastic gas pipe which supplies 60 domestic and commercial
MORE than 200 protesters descended on a primary school to oppose plans for a golf course which involve dumping 750,000 tonnes of builder's rubbish in the countryside. Despite assurances from the firm behind the £5million plan, residents in the Feniscowles
THE search is on for the chalkboard champions who have helped to raise education standards in East Lancashire. The Department for Education and Skills is looking for nominations for the first Excellence Clusters Champion Awards. The new award follows
A 30-YEAR-OLD man has died in hospital after being rescued from his burning flat following a chip pan fire. Wayne Fletcher's death was the second from a similar domestic incident in a matter of days, leading firefighters to reissue warnings against the
AN award-winning tattooist who counted Blackburn's former World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty among his clients has died following a heart attack. Paul Gornall -- known as Goz -- will be honoured by a cavalcade of bikers at his funeral. The father-of-three
A MAN convicted of two armed robberies five years ago and still on prison licence left his latest victim terrified after he pounced and took her bag as she got into her car. Preston Crown Court heard how heroin addict Joseph Fox, 36, of no fixed address
CLAIMING the bus was late will soon be no excuse for East Lancashire students trying to get to college lectures on time. In a pioneering scheme, Runshaw College -- which takes dozens of students from Blackburn and all across East Lancashire -- has bought
A MOTHER accompanied her 15-year-old son to school for the first day of term today in a bid to avoid a "terrifying" jail sentence. Magistrates have ruled that Linda Cocker can expect prison if her son Michael does not attend school regularly over the
SCHOOLGIRLS will able to get the morning-after pill free from chemists as health bosses try to cut the number of teenage pregnancies in East Lancashire. The move comes after it emerged that some GPs were reluctant to prescribe the pill to under-16s. The
A PATIENT who discovered he had cancer just days after becoming a grandfather today revealed how he thought he had a stomach bug and said: "It was like a bombshell." Yvon Craghill, 69, is now backing the Magic Eye Appeal to buy an endoscopic ultrasound
BEING an ardent Rovers fan it is good to have Simon Leigh's excellent column back every Tuesday, and his sensible views about the Rovers. It is also good to read Stephen (I should have taken up fishing) Cummings and his excuses already as to why his beloved
BURY Glynn Garner ................... 7 Jamie Stuart ................... 6 Michael Nelson ................... 7 Lee Unsworth ................... 6 Martyn Forrest ................... 6 Chris Billy ................... 5 Steve Redmond ...................
FULHAM winger Eddie Lewis has agreed a three-year deal with Preston and will complete his long-awaited switch to Deepdale subject to passing a medical. The clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for United States international, who impressed Lilywhites manager
PRESTON put the brakes on Ipswich's goal-scoring high-jinx thanks to an elastic performance from keeper Tepi Moilanen. But while the Flying Finn was the true star of the game, fans from both sides will remember just one person as a result of a goal-less
WHEN a team finishes on terms after twice hitting the woodwork of their opponents' goal it might be thought they were unlucky not to win, but Bury can be grateful for the point they got in the 1-1 draw with West Ham United at Gigg Lane on Saturday. The
A TELESALES boss who was told she could not recruit staff outside Bury Job Centre says she will not be deterred from returning there. Chris Wells (40) had few responses to an advert for vacancies at Bury-based GB Research, and took leaflets along to hand
