AN ILLEGAL immigrant helped set up East Lancashire's biggest cann-abis factory after being sent to flood the area with drugs by a Vietnamese criminal gang. Police said that Viet Dinh, 27, was part of a "sophisticated and organised" group after he pleaded
BLACKBURN Hawks are without key players Michael Brunton and Peter Tapp for a vital ice hockey clash this weekend. Captain Brunton and Tapp are both unavailable as Hawks travel up to the North East for an English National Ice Hockey League fixture with
BURNLEY are set to have a second look at young midfielder Dean Grubb. The Wales Under 19 and Under 21 international - a product of Bristol City's youth system who is currently playing for Weston-Super-Mare - played 90 minutes for the reserves against
A TEENAGER has been spared detention after supplying heroin to a schoolboy who later died. Burnley Youth Court was told that the Nelson boy's real punishment began when Francis Clapham died and would remain with him for the rest of his life. And the
A POLICE officer called in his colleagues after his wife made threats of self harm, Burnley magistrates heard. Dawn Geogarty, 42, was in her nightclothes and wardrobes and cupboards had been tipped over and clothes were scattered around. She was agitated
YOUNG film directors will see their work on the big screen at a national film festival. Films by pupils from Hameldon Community College, Burnley, Pendle Community High School, Nelson, and Kelbrook Primary School have all been picked to be shown at the
IAN Bell delivered a telling response to his undeserved omission from England's ICC World Twenty20 squad by opening the one-day challenge in Sri Lanka with an impressive century. Given just one warm-up match to make his point to coach Peter Moores and
A BURNLEY teenager who had made life a misery for people in Briercliffe has been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. Peter Wilkinson, 17, of Shore Avenue could face arrest if he is found in Holgate Street, Granville Street or Talbot Street or within
A MAN went into his dentist's surgery and demanded anaesthetic and scalpels - so he could perform surgery on his girlfriend who was suffering with haemorrhoids. Blackburn magistrates heard the bizarre request was refused by staff at the surgery who decided
A PERVERT from East Lancashire - who terrorised nearly 90 people by calling them and making sickening demands - has been labelled Britain's worst phone pest. Police and BT investigators received more than 100 complaints from across the area about factory
Pink and the Lancashire Telegraph have teamed up to give 5 lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to visit Fashion Weekend Manchester. Pink by Yellowglen, the sparkling rosé wine from South-Eastern Australia, is the main wine sponsor at
An iconic record sleeve producer is behind the new logo promoting the regeneration of East Lancashire. Peter Saville, the man who created famous album sleeves for bands like Joy Division and New Order, was the creative director for the project to find
COPPER thieves who put lives at risk at Royal Blackburn Hospital stole 1,600ft of cabling over a number of days, it has been revealed. Phone lines went down at the Haslingden Road hospital for two days last month and major disruption was caused to services
A MOTORIST arrested at 8.30am was found to be more than five times the legal drink drive limit. Blackburn magistrates heard the reading of 178 against the legal limit of 35 was one of the highest ever recorded in the county and was all the more remarkable
The Itch are one of Lancashire's best-known live bands. In 2005 they supported the Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers at Blackburn's King George's Hall. We got the story behind the band. Easter 1992, drummer Dave Benmore and guitarist Colin Benmore
The first meeting of the re-formed Darwen Local History Society was held on Monday night at the Sports and Social Club, Bridge Street. Around 50 people heard a talk, The Greenway Family, by Tony Foster.
A 13-year-old burglar who broke into a shed with a criminal in his 20s could end up behind bars. Burnley magistrates heard how the defendant, already classed as a persistent young offender, had helped his accomplice raid the shed and take power tools
TALENTED youngsters have won their way through to a national final with their own green car - even though it broke down in a qualifying heat. Pupils at Hollins Technology College, Accrington, spent two years developing their Formula 24 vehicle which
MORE than 600 purse alarms are to be handed out across Darwen in the run-up to Christmas. The first 100 will be given to older people by Police Community Support Officer Elizabeth Parrish at Age Concern in Darwen Town Hall today. She will give advice
We spoke to former Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes about his early musical flair, the band break-up and his new life as a solo artist. I REMEMBER being four years of age and singing was the only thing I truly wanted to do," said Darren Hayes.
DEALERS and users have been warned that police will find their stash of drugs - no matter where they hide them. The move came after a drug user attempted to avoid arrest by hiding a wrap of heroin in dog dirt. Officers were able to find the drugs during
Steve Steinman is bringing his rock 'n' roll show Vampires Rock to venues in Lancaster, Manchester, St Helens, Blackpool and Preston. We asked him some key questions. If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be... Sound checking for my show tonight
A WEEK on from the murder of an East Lancashire man in Manchester, members of the city's gay community spoke of their fears in wake of the fatal stabbing. David Brown, 24, died after being stabbed three times in his thighs as he walked home from Cruz
A SURVEY of a Burnley primary school class found that nearly every child had eaten a takeaway the night before. Diet experts from BUFFALO (Burnley Food and Fitness Aimed at Lowering Obesity) made the shock finding after quizzing pupils at an un-named
A BID for funding to create a museum and heritage centre to celebrate the history of Darwen has been turned down. But officials are determined ot find funding from other sources so that the scheme can still go ahead. Blackburn with Darwen Council submitted
A PENSIONER who has admitted attacking his partner a second time is facing a trial over the facts. Burnley magistrates heard how David Taylor, 66, was said by the prosecution to have punched Dawn Bradley, bursting her nose. He is then said to have grabbed
AN X-FACTOR contestant and her parents who were slammed by Simon Cowell have been dubbed neigh-bours from hell. Emma Chawner, 17, and her family, of Lancaster Avenue, Ramsbottom, could lose their home because of complaints about noise and abusive behaviour
A MAN who barricaded his family inside their home later threatened to jump from a rooftop car park. Blackburn magistrates heard that Anthony Jones was pulled back from the brink by a police officer. Jones, of Monmouth Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty
LANCASHIRE fire chiefs have pulled plans to spend nearly £20,000 on white shirts for senior officers after they were labelled a "ludicrous" waste of money. Proposals to issue the new shirts to those ranked at crew manager level and above were an attempt
A MOTHER-of-four who stole more than £600,000 from an East Lancashire firm has been banned from being a company director for 12 years. Former climbing firm boss Lorna Farenden is currently serving a three-year jail term after stealing from her employers
AFTER Wednesday night's Carling Cup win over Birmingham City, Rovers manager Mark Hughes finds himself with some tough decisions to make ahead of tomorrow's trip to Sunderland. Several players, who had previously been on the outside looking in, seized
TICKETS have gone on sale today for An Evening With Anthony Costa which is coming to Darwen's Library Theatre next year. The former member of multi-million selling boy band Blue is embarking on an 18-date UK tour which comes to Darwen on Wednesday,
Recently I came across a gentleman who was still paid all his wages in cash. I didn't realise this actually took place anymore. Oh I understand certain people in certain professions must be paid in cash. But every Friday? In an envelope? After lining
A NEW ambulance, donated by the Freemasons Grand Charity, has been launched this week by the British Red Cross to support its efforts in Lancashire. The vehicle is part of a £2.3million appeal by the organisation, to support the emergency services
A FATHER of four attacked his partner of 20 years after a row over a Halloween pumpkin, a court was told. Darren David Williamson, 41, put victim Michelle Patten on the floor with a judo-type throw and was then said to have stamped on her. At least
A DOCTOR cleared of indecently assa-ulting a teenage patient has been the subject of a High Court hearing to prevent him from practising as a GP. Dr Tanuku Venkata Suryanarayana, 57, was found not guilty of the charge more than 18 months ago, after a
PEOPLE across East Lancashire did their bit for charity today as they took part in the Macmillan Cancer World's Biggest Coffee Morning. Last year people in East Lancashire raised over £36,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by taking part in the event and
BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill believes he has got more than he bargained for with the signing of Graham Alexander. The Scotland international became the first player to sign from rivals Preston North End in 20 years with his £200,000 pre-transfer deadline
Vinnie Brain has returned to Padiham after a dramatic change of heart. The Storks' leading striker signed for UniBond League First Division North side Woodley Sports last Thursday, made his debut against FC United on Saturday, then returned to the Arbories
BACUP boss Brent Peters is hoping his players can start to find the target as they visit Ramsbottom United. But Borough are facing an injury crisis with eight players definitely out and Chris Greenwood only rated 50/50 after picking up a knock in the
COLNE have bolstered their squad by signing experienced utility player Sam Hayes in time for tomorrow's visit of Runcorn Linnets. Hayes, who can play in defence or midfield, is likely to go straight in to the squad to replace the injured Scott Gizon
NELSON manager Terry Fildes admits he's looking forward to a time when he can field a full strength side. Fildes has been blighted by a succession of injuries and call-offs as his side struggle to make an impact in the league this season. But he is
DARWEN boss Steve Mullen has paid tribute to his young players ahead of tomorrow's home clash against Ashton Athletic. Mullen drafted in youngsters Matt Howarth, Matt Morris, John Stephenson and Dominic Slaven who responded by helping the Anchor Ground
IT'S always interesting when you come up against your former team, and I'm sure Gabor Kiraly is ready to show just what Crystal Palace are missing tomorrow. The big Hungarian has impressed me since arriving at Turf Moor. His handling is good and he comes
A PIONEERING crime reduction scheme based in East Lancashire has won an international policing award in America. The Blackburn with Darwen Family Intervention Project, aimed at addressing the causes of anti-social behaviour and to prevent families becoming
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill has revealed he is constantly scouring the market, but is in no rush to make any loan signings. "I'm always looking and making phone calls to see what's around and what's available - it's part of your job," he said. "I probably
HAVING been on the road for more than four decades, The Animals must be one of the hardest-working bands around. We put some questions to band member John Steel. DO YOU THINK YOUNG BANDS NOWADAYS HAVE AN EASY RIDE? The hardest part is getting started
Kate Rusby, voted best live act in the BBC2 Folk Awards, is currently touring the UK to promote her latest album Awkward Annie, which also marks her debut as a producer. She spoke to us about her career so far. How did you find producing Awkward Annie
Swapping the TV screen for the stage, actor Jeff Hordley spoke to us about life after Emmerdale, his secret soft side and dressing up as a woman. Everyone expects me to be a real ruffian" says Jeff Hordley, who played rogue Cain Dingle for six years
Following a tough year overshadowed with personal problems for singer-songwriter Sam Brown, she is hitting the road for a tour which is more significant than anything she has done before. She told us all about it. Sam Brown took to music as naturally
Chris McCann is likely to miss Burnley's game against Crystal Palace tomorrow as he remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. The 20-year-old missed the Carling Cup third round tie with Portsmouth in midweek after being carried off on a stretcher
SO now we have landscape art sited on high ground. I take issue with the concept of having art thrust down my throat and paid for by taxpayers. Art should be personal choice both in subject and appreciation. Art should not be determined by others. By
BLACKBURN ROVERS boss Mark Hughes lavished praise on defender Martin Olsson after the 19-year-old made his first senior start against Birmingham on Wednesday night. The Sweden Under-21 international helped his team to a 3-0 Carling Cup win over the
CAN anyone help? I am trying to find details of my grandfather, Wilfred Marriott, who went missing around 1926. He would have been 69 in 1965. Having searched through all the deaths for a Wilfred Marriott from the 1920s, I am now investigating all individuals
I AM researching the Smith family who owned a tailors shop in Rishton around the early 1900s. The children of the Smith family were Mary, Margaret, Henry, Alice, Sarah, Thomas, Martha and James. If there are any descendants of any of these children
I AM absolutely disgusted with the decision to cut funding for MS sufferer Michael Kelly. How can it be right when people from EU countries moving here can claim benefits for their children who do not even live here, yet someone who has worked and paid
When school began this month, the children of Akkaba in northern West Bank Palestine did not just have the usual concerns of a new school year. They had the grave worry that any day their school may be demolished. The Israeli army say Akkaba is in a
CRYSTAL Palace boss Peter Taylor is hoping a victory against the Clarets at Turf Moor tomorrow could help put to bed speculation surrounding his future at Selhurst Park. And he is looking for his struggling side to tighten up at the back and give him
ROSSENDALE skipper Phil Eastwood was so disappointed with his side's 9-0 thrashing by Bradford last weekend that he paid for the supporter's bus out of his own pocket. And while chairman Steve Hobson praised the gesture, he was hoping there would be
The website www.barrowford.com was created over a number of years by the late James Sanderson, a life long Barrowforder. It is now maintained in his memory by myself, James' nephew and I have tried to keep it exactly as he left it apart from any information
ROBBIE Savage has billed tomorrow's clash with Sunderland as the first of three 'huge' games which could shape Blackburn Rovers' season. After the disappointment of back-to-back defeats against Larissa and Portsmouth, Rovers returned to winning ways
A MAN was left with a broken jaw following a "vicious" assault in Barnoldswick. The assault happened in Station Road at the corner of the Railway pub when a local man was walking home with friends after a night out in the town. Police said they were
CLITHEROE boss Neil Reynolds admits it will be a special day at Shawbridge tomorrow as the Blues aim to take another huge step forward in the FA Cup. A victory over Spennymoor Town would leave them just one game away from meeting the big boys in the
IT was just like the old days last week when I pulled on a Rovers shirt and experienced the thrill of scoring against Manchester United! For those who didn't see it, I was representing Rovers in the Premier League All-stars - a competition which featured
STANLEY striker Paul Mullin is a good friend of Bury boss Chris Casper. But Accrington's leading scorer insists that friendships will be put to one side for 90 minutes tomorrow. Casper is under pressure at Bury after a sticky start to the season and
DISCERNING Burnley manager Steve Cotterill believes he has acquired the right blend of youth and experience to drive the Clarets forward. While young striker John Cofie hit the headlines this week as a result of Premier League sides tracking the promising
A THIEF was caught on CCTV after police set up a sting operation involving a satellite navigation system left on the dashboard of a car. But when they faield to recover the item after it was stolen, they tried to claim £1,800 compensation for the equipment
BURNLEY'S youth team fixtures against Rochdale have now been reversed. Tomorrow's game will take place at Gawthorpe, with an 11am kick-off. The away match takes place at Rossendale United on December 1.
TWO thousand people attended the Lancashire Telegraph's career fair yesterday. It was the sixth time the event had been held. Karen Jepson, Lancashire Telegraph telesales manager, and one of the team behind the event, said she counted over 100 people
FRIENDS and colleagues have paid tribute to a 'cornerstone' of one of Burnley's most deprived areas, who has died. Father-of-four Pete Tarren, 58, was described as the most dedicated and committed voluntary worker in south west Burnley. The award winning
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 21-year-old died following a alleged fight. Detectives launched the murder probe after an incident in Regent Drive, Skipton, North Yorkshire at about midnight. Police said the dead man, who has
I DIDN'T feel as though I actually had to watch last night's Secret Diary of a Call Girl to know what the show was about, I've read so many interviews about it with Billie Piper. For the last few weeks, bigmouth Billie could be seen lounging saucily
Demolition work will begin on the former Darwen Leisure Centre in the New Year to prevent disruption during the Christmas shopping period. Council bosses have decided that works to clear the site for the £12million state of the art complex will not start
SIX pupils have been suspended for smoking cannabis at a Roman Catholic high school. A seventh pupil, aged 15, faces permanent exclusion after bringing the drugs into St Augustine's RC High School, Billington on Wednesday. Police said they intended
Daniel Thwaites Brewery has claimed another superb catch after announcing a new 2-year sponsorship deal with Lancashire County Cricket Club, which will see Thwaites become Lancashire's official club sponsor for the next two seasons (2008/09). The northern
