Blackburn chairman John Williams believes the influx of foreign players will continue to grow and grow as long as English players command premium prices. The FA's director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking has claimed the increase in foreign
England lost a highly-charged match at The Brit Oval as India levelled the NatWest Series by completing a huge run chase in the final over. Controversy reigned as England attempted to wrap up the seven-match campaign without the injured Andrew Flintoff
FORMER England physio Fred Street believes Steve Gerrard should have the final decision on whether to face Israel with a painkilling injection. England coach Steve McClaren is prepared to defy the wishes of Gerrard's Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and play
ACCRINGTON boss John Coleman has vowed to ring the changes in defence following Stanley's Johnstone's Paint Trophy exit to Oldham Athletic. He was left fuming with his back four after Stanley were dumped out of the competition's first round on Tuesday
THE organiser of this year's Pendle Walking Festival said the event was a huge success - despite the poor weather - with visitors from as far afield as Australia, Canada and Italy. John Belbin said numbers taking part were more than 50 per cent up on
FOUR police officers have been hailed heroes after saving a man's life by carrying him half-a-mile through rugged countryside. The three constables and a sergeant discovered the 32-year-old man face down in mud after being told he was threatening to
MOBILE phone users in East Lancashire have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket following the collapse of a West Midlands telecoms dealer. Consumer watchdogs have recorded 50 complaints from people over Birmingham-based Dialamobile. Trading Standards
EAST Lancashire's cage fighting star has hit back at claims that the sport is little more than "human cock fighting". Michael 'The Count' Bisping is set to fight in front of 20,000 people at the O2 arena in his latest Ultimate Fighting Championship (
A TOP doctor credited with saving thousands of lives returned home to see work being done by health professionals in Burnley and Pendle. Sir John Oldham, who until recently headed up the UK's National Primary Care Development Team, has fond memories
A KEY member of Blackburn's chart-topping 60s band The Four Pennies has died of pancreatic cancer aged 63. Fritz Fryer, born David Roderick Carney Fryer on December 6 1944 in Revidge, died suddenly in hospital after an operation near his home in Lisbon
A CAR parking company has won a court battle with motorists who refused to pay tickets, bosses said. And now S&B Parking, which manages car parks at Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson, has instructed bailiffs to get the hundreds of pounds owed to it
A HOTLINE has been set up for concerned parents to shop motorists who park dangerou- sly outside schools. The special hotline and email account has been set up this week to mark children returning to school after the summer break. Blackburn's Neighbourhood
The cost of buying a home in the north west has gone up four times faster than the wage of the average employee over the last decade, says a new TUC report. In 1997 the average house price was £49,000, equivalent to three years of the then average wage
FORMER Burnley Football Club manager Stan Ternent's first day of his trial for an alleged assault has ended. Ternent, 61, is accused of head-butting a man in an incident at Burnley Cricket Club, Belvedere Road. The jury at Lancaster Crown Court heard
The body of a man has been found by police searching for a missing father-of-two. The body, which has yet to be identified, was discovered in Haslingden Road, earlier today. Joseph Farrow, 64, also known as Eddie, has not been seen since 10.30pm last
A PUB landlord has launched an investigation to find out whether his new inn is haunted. Local legends say the Cross Gaits Inn, Blacko was used to imprison some of the famous Pendle witches and that the ghost of a woman with a dog has been seen sitting
Whitefield ward councillor Nadeem Ahmed has called for a crackdown on unlicensed market traders after complaints from legitimate sellers. He told Pendle Council's Nelson Committee: "These people are not paying their way, they are not licensed and they
A CHANCE to make history is being at the world's first gravy wrestling championships - but organisers are desperate for a stock of volunteers. Despite international media attention no teams have yet come forward to take part in the Pennine Lancashire
A POLITICAL campaigner has launched a drive to give a shot in the arm to Darwen's hard-pressed traders. Jake Berry, prospective Tory parliamentary candidate for Darwen and Rossendale, is involving more than 3,000 households in his Shop Local initiative
A GROUP of campaigners are celebrating after a row of historic lime trees were saved from the axe. The nine trees in York Street, Clitheroe, were earmarked for destruction by Ribble Valley and county council safety chiefs who claimed the roots had become
A DRUNKEN father-of two-who staged a rooftop siege at Tesco supermarket has been jailed for six months. Steel erector Alexander Joseph Fishwick, 31, had hurled missiles at police, almost electrocuted himself and put a cable around his neck threatening
THE decision to scrap grants for people forced to move under the Elevate housing renewal scheme will top the agenda when a Government minister visits Burnley tomorrow. Housing minister Ian Wright will be in the town as a guest speaker at a political
TRAFFIC should be allowed back through Nelson town centre to avoid a sales slump during a major roadworks project, a shopkeepers' leader has said. But Lancashire County Council's member in charge of roads, County Coun Tony Martin, called the idea "baloney
A VOTE has been called for on plans to establish a town council which would manage some of Darwen's local affairs. Labour councillors have drafted a motion for Thursday's meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council, demanding that a public referendum be
A HYNDBURN firefighter died after appearing to lose control of his motorcycle on a road favoured by fellow riding enthusiasts. David Standing, 44, of Russell Street, Accrington, died when his Suzuki hit a fence and landed on top of him. He had been
Rovers chairman John Williams predicts wages will soar this year to reflect the record spending on transfers. Sports consultants Deloitte believe there will not be such a dramatic rise in players' salaries compared to transfer fees, but Williams disagrees
SHE'S just seven months old, but little Jessica Power will be wrapped in 143 years of family history when she is christened in an heirloom. Jessica, from High Bank Crescent, Darwen, will be the 32nd child in the family to wear a gown, which spans three
A MAN accused of murdering a former Rossendale rugby player was seen "crying his eyes out" once news of the death became known, a court was told. Matthew Bourne is alleged to have killed William Prosser, who lived in Newchurch between 1999-2000 and played
AN annual war memorial pilgrimage to remember the Accrington Pals faces being cancelled unless more people come forward. Only a fraction of veterans, their relatives, and tourists, have joined this year's coach trip to Ypres, Belgium, compared to previous
PEOPLE in Pendle are being given the opportunity to recycle more rubbish with the launch of a new drinks carton recycling scheme. Pendle Council is working with Tetra Pak and the carton industry group ACE UK to set up three carton collection points.
ON Saturday, October 6, football reaches a new low. Only ONE of the 10 Premiership games will kick off at the traditional time of 3pm. The rest will be scattered throughout the weekend to accommodate the Sky and Setanta fat cats, and the UEFA Cup.
PEOPLE are being encouraged to step back in time and celebrate Darwen's illustrious past. Culture officials have devised a new heritage trail through the town thanks to a heritage lottery grant. The historical trek, detailed in a new leaflet available
THE lives of two men who were 'friends with everyone' were remembered by former colleagues in a three- peaks climb. A 14-strong team from Akzo Nobel climbed the three tallest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in remembrance of Dave Whittaker and
BLACKBURN Rovers will play their UEFA Cup first round first leg match against Larissa FC in the city of Volos. The game will be played at the Panthessaliko Stadium, to the east of Larissa after Larissa's Alkazar Stadium was deemed unsuitable for the
A PUB chef is hoping her food can prove as popular with the people of East Lancashire as it did with the US President. Laura Lubgane, 19, is running The Hordens in Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, alongside partner and new licensee David Brown, 39. And
The Haslingden Halifax plc agency has relocated to the town centre at 38 Deardengate and is now open for business. Opening hours are 9am - 4pm Monday to Friday (9.30am opening on Wednesdays) and 9am - 12noon on Saturdays.
A 23-year-old disqualified driver who was working in his uncle's car sales business found the temptation to get behind the wheel too strong to resist. But Aftab Bakhat, defending, told Blackburn magistrates his client had attempted to make sure there
A GROUP of travellers who have set up camps at six sites in Hyndburn this summer have cost two councils almost £6,000 trying to remove them. Each time the group has been evicted from one site they have moved to another nearby, leading to calls from officials
Paul Gallagher, who made the deadline day loan move from Blackburn Rovers to Preston North End until January, believes his new team-mates have what it takes to recover from their dreadful start to the season. Paul Simpson's side suffered late heartache
Blackburn Rovers have appointed a new fitness coach. Damian Roden joins the club from neighbours Bolton Wanderers and replaces Tony Struidwick, who joined Manchester United last month.
FEW people connected with Burnley will relish a break for international duty, least of all Andy Gray. Optimism is encircling Turf Moor again on the back of reaching the Carling Cup third round and a brilliant win at Colchester United. And with five goals
BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill has insisted there is no room for complacency within his starting line-up. The Clarets boss strengthened his squad with the summer additions of goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, wide man Besart Berisha, defenders Stephen Jordan
A 24-year-old man who had drunk two bottles of Southern Comfort and some brandy fell asleep in another man's house after locking the home owner out, a court heard. Blackburn magistrates heard that Michael Anthony Jackson lashed out at police officers
BLACKBURN Bullet Carl Fogarty says he will walk away from motorbikes if he is unable to secure sponsorship for his superbike team. The four-time World Superbike champion has been away from the sport for the last year after failing to net funding for
Introducing The Torrents. WHO ARE YOU? Neal Burton (lead vocals and guitar), Joss Croasdale (bass guitar), Swanny (lead guitar) and Austin Clarke (drums). WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? Nobody really knows why we came up with the name The Torrents
BLACKBURN midfielder Steven Reid could be back in action by the end of this month. And the Republic of Ireland international, who has been plagued by injury, admitted it couldn't come quick enough. He said: "To say my lay-off has been frustrating would
BLACKBURN Sea Cadets would like to thank all those who contributed in any way to their most successful week in the new charity shop. We still have a long way to go in raising the £140,000 required for our new headquarters, but the support shown during
IT WILL come as no surprise to people who have read a little social history, that the working classes have been exploited, deceived and economically abused. I think the recently empowered union of parties (Tories, Lib Dems etc) who currently run Blackburn
REGARDING one of my poems that featured in Poet's Corner on September 3. I would like to point out that it was written over a year ago, and in no way refers to the death of a local artist. I apologise for any distress caused to a local family, and would
THE report on unsafe headstones at Pleasington Cemetery (LT, August 28) gives cause for concern. Mr Brent Stevenson of Brent Stevenson Memorials, is reported to have said: "It's ironic that the main problem is in the cement joint at the bottom of the
WITH regard to the front page story of headstone problems at Pleasington Cemetery and the costs to be levied - why can't headstones be laid down on graves? The story of the relentless march of "tat" on the graves and surroundings has been missed. We
JOHN Coleman last night blasted his defence after Accrington Stanley crashed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy to Oldham following a dramatic turnaround. The Reds looking to be plain sailing in their first round tie at the Fraser Eagle Stadium after
THE Archbishop of York will officially open Blackburn College's new St Paul's Centre on Friday. Dr John Sentamu will be joined by the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackburn, council leaders and students from the college, and local schools, for the opening ceremony
Blackburn Northern skipper Nasser Malik insists there is still a lot of cricket to be played as the Ribblesdale League goes into its penultimate weekend. Northern and Baxenden are locked together at the top of the Senior League table on 196 points and
CAN anyone explain the purpose of last night's Don't Call Me Stupid, on ITV? A cross between Weakest Link and Wife Swap, the first in this new series saw Happy Monday's maraca shaker Bez and royal commentator James Whitaker thrown together in a most
CHANCES are even the biggest Luddites among us have heard of the latest internet phenomenon: websites Facebook, MySpace, Flixster and Bebo. Maybe you don't know quite what they are or how they work, but most of us will agree that it feels like these
BLACKBURN'S Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School starts a new chapter this term. Dr David Hempsall retired as headteacher of the West Park Road school last week, after 12 years at the helm, and handed over to Simon Corns. Mr Corns, who previously taught
As teen soap Hollyoaks builds up to screening the first ever TV death from anorexia we spoke to one East Lancashire women who has lived with the harrowing eating disorder for 20 years. ELIZABETH Foster's fight with anorexia has blighted all her adult
A soldier wakes from dreams of pain Another day to fight again, His gun is charged with anger now He's ceased to wonder why or how, There are no reasons understood When heritage is bought with blood! When war itself has gone berserk, And who's
Andrew Flintoff will miss England's NatWest Series match against India today because of the injury to his left ankle.
FEW people connected with Burnley will relish a break for international duty, least of all Andy Gray. Optimism is encircling Turf Moor again on the back of reaching the Carling Cup third round and a brilliant win at Colchester United. And with five goals
DAVID Bentley is a younger David Beckham. And there is no doubt in my mind that the Rovers wide-man should start for England against Israel on Saturday. There are various players who can play on the right hand side, but Bentley can play in the midfield
A NAKED flasher struck in front of a young woman neighbour, committing a sex act while standing in the large tinted window of his Burnley flat, a court was told. The town's magistrates were told jobless Graeme Marshall, 32, was looking up at the 23-year-old
CHAIRMAN Barry Kilby and director Brendan Flood will be in the hotseat for a Question and Answer at Turf Moor tonight. The event takes place in the James Hargreaves Suite, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 each and a Lancashire hotpot supper is included
