Archive

  • Cutting through tax bill confusion

    MANY people find it confusing trying to work out which local authorities provide what services - and that's without the re-organisation threatened by any introduction of regional government. In East Lancashire, unless you are within the unitary boundary

  • Mela didn't cater for all tastes

    FIRST we had Arts in the Park in Blackburn, which catered for everybody, eg entertainment, music, food and drink. Then the following week we have the Mela and we are expected to take an interest in Asian culture. But on visiting the Mela we find no beer

  • Thanks for donations

    MAY I express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those in the Blackburn area who contributed to a recent house to house collection between January 28 and February 8 for the National Kidney Research Fund. The total sum raised was £1,478.99 and will

  • Pulpit no place for politics

    I AM neither a supporter of nor a member of the BNP, but I do object to the Bishop of Burnley interfering in local/national politics by advising people not to attend the BNP's annual festival (LET, August 9). We know that church and state are irrevocably

  • Shot fired by biker robbers

    TWO masked men fired a shotgun in the air as they sped off on a motorbike from a robbery in Leigh. The raiders had targeted security staff as they were delivering money to a hole-in-the-wall cash machine outside United Co-op Late Shop in Manchester Road

  • Chaplow is no-go say Rovers

    BLACKBURN Rovers have today rubbished reports linking them with a swoop for Burnley starlet Richard Chaplow. The 19-year-old midfielder recently signed a new four-year deal with the Clarets, and Rovers chief executive John Williams has denied making a

  • Centurions stay top at the Coliseum

    Leigh Centurions 46 Doncaster Dragons 32 by Martyn Hindley: LEIGH Centurions survived a second half onslaught from Doncaster to maintain top spot with victory at The Coliseum. The Dragons eroded Leigh's 34-10 half-time lead and got to within two points

  • Chaplow is no-go say Rovers

    BLACKBURN Rovers have today rubbished reports linking them with a swoop for Burnley starlet Richard Chaplow. The 19-year-old midfielder recently signed a new four-year deal with the Clarets, and Rovers chief executive John Williams has denied making a

  • Souey salutes 'warrior' Short

    GRAEME Souness was thankful for a second half transformation that rescued a point in the Premiership opener with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Rovers boss made a double substitution to change the course of the game at half-time, when Rovers were

  • Blackburn Rovers 1 West Bromwich Albion 1

    NICK SMITH reports. . . WITH the grey skies and endless rain of the past three months, it's as if summer never happened. But if you still weren't convinced, a visit to Ewood Park would have made this outlook much clearer on Saturday. Craig Short, a man

  • MP welcomes new schools money

    GORDON Prentice, MP for Pendle, has welcomed the news that Lancashire County Council is to receive funding to build brand new state-of-the-art schools in Burnley and Pendle. The proposals, which include knocking down three high schools in Nelson and Brierfield

  • Carnival of colour

    HUNDREDS of people lined the streets to watch a cavalcade of colour in Burnley's first inter-community carnival. The cops and robbers-themed event was made possible when the Rank Foundation charity, a national body that helps promote leadership among

  • Scheme aims to give shoplifters the boot

    POLICE in Briercliffe are planning to team up with local traders in order to give shoplifters the boot. They are currently canvassing opinion among traders about a proposed "Shop Watch" scheme designed to help combat shoplifting and anti-social behaviour

  • Top doc backs smoking block call

    CALLS for an all-out smoking ban in public have been backed by a leading health expert in East Lancashire. The call to protect people from second-hand smoke and to help smokers quit has come from Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health for Burnley

  • Shakers battered by top Mariners

    Grimsby Town 5 Bury 1: BURY'S good start to the season was brought to a shuddering halt at a sunny Blundell Park on Saturday. Level at half-time, and well in control of proceedings, Graham Barrow's men were given a lesson in finishing after the break

  • Town hall scoops top award

    PENDLE Council has won a top award for its annual development programme for councillors. The Council's Member Development Training Programme has been recognised by the North West Employers' Organisation. Over the next 12 months, councillors will receive

  • 'Job aid' scheme bonanza

    AN innovative scheme in Pendle helping people get back to work has secured more than £500,000 in funding. And Pendle MP Gordon Prentice today congratulated the borough council on the success of Tackling Unemployment (TUP), based in Carr Road, Nelson.

  • Family and friends 'devastated' by theft from bowling club

    A MEMORIAL bench dedicated to a former member of a bowling club in Radcliffe has been stolen. Family and friends of Ronald James Barlow have been left devastated by the theft of the seat from Hollinhurst Bowling Club, off Stand Lane, Chapelfield. Hanging

  • Here's how to open the door to success

    VOLUNTARY and community groups in Colne are being invited to a series of free workshops organised by the Colne Open Door Project. The aim of the workshops is to give new and developing community organisations the opportunity to get free support and advice

  • Library to set new net system

    ACCRINGTON Library will launch its new computer reservation system, NetLoan, on Thursday. The library is adding a further 11 computers to the People's Network, which already offers public use of Microsoft Office applications, internet and e-mail free

  • Father stunned by friends' generosity

    THE father of a man who lost his year-long battle with leukaemia today spoke of his pride after friends raised £14,000 in his son's memory. Retired Longridge newsagent Jack Hollingworth had hoped to raise a small amount to show his appreciation to the

  • Moore relief after ending goal drought

    CLARETS hotshot Ian Moore confessed that finding the net at Watford was a massive weight off his shoulders. The striker hit the bulls-eye to score the only goal at Vicarage Road and earn Steve Cotterill his first competitive victory as Burnley boss. And

  • Moore relief after ending goal drought

    CLARETS hotshot Ian Moore confessed that finding the net at Watford was a massive weight off his shoulders. The striker hit the bulls-eye to score the only goal at Vicarage Road and earn Steve Cotterill his first competitive victory as Burnley boss. And

  • Cost-cutting acts blunted

    WE are £1trillion in debt. £1,004,290,000,000 to be exact -- almost the same as the nation's Gross Domestic Product. The figure, revealed by the Bank of England, means an average of £16,955 is owed by every man, woman and child. My overdraft is not that

  • Khan in Olympics action

    BURY's Amir Khan faces Greek Marios Kaperonis in the first round of the Olympic lightweight boxing competition at 1.15pm on Monday.

  • Residents battling in no-go road rage

    COUNCIL officials are refusing to re-open road blocked since 1996 until residents can prove anyone used it. A petition from people in the Redearth Road area of Darwen was sent to Blackburn with Darwen Council asking for Ashton Lane - which appears on

  • Riding into battle

    A GROUP of Tockholes residents and the owners of a controversial motocross site will come face-to-face at a public hearing. The on-going battle led to Blackburn with Darwen Council issuing an enforcement notice in October limiting use of the site to 14

  • Plenty to smile about at textile museum

    VISITORS to a Rossendale museum will be entertained by clowns, pantomime dames and Punch and Judy shows this week. Helmshore Mills Textile Museum has been inspired by it current exhibition Grin Up North, which has proved popular with older visitors. The

  • Man used fumes to kill himself

    A STACKSTEADS man found dead in his bathroom used the fumes from a motorised scooter to kill himself, an inquest heard. Edward Smith, 28, of Acre Mill Road, had been diagnosed as suffering from depression. His father John told the inquest he had become

  • Cricketer's death was 'accidental'

    THE family of a popular cricketer found dead in his van told an inquest they did not believe he intended to kill himself. Robert Riley, 39, of Alder Avenue, Rawtenstall, was missing for two days before his body was found in April by police in a car park

  • Boro hit nine!

    RADCLIFFE Borough rounded off their pre-season programme with a 9-1 win at Rossendale United. Rory Patterson hit four goals and Karl Marginson bagged two, with Simon carden, Phil Denney and Jamie Baguley also finding the net.

  • Family care service launched

    THE needs of young people and families will be catered for with the launch of a new care service. After two years of planning and consultation, Lancashire County Council Social Services has unveiled its redeveloped strategy by launching its new Family

  • You're never too old to learn, proves dad

    WHEN Peter Hutchinson left school at 14 to take up a trade and become a mastic pointer, sitting exams was the last thing on his mind. But today, three decades and several career changes later, the father-of-four is living proof that you're never too old

  • Pioneer scheme is to go county wide

    EVERY youngster in Lancashire is to benefit from a new scheme aimed at making the transition from primary to secondary school much smoother. Education chiefs at Lancashire County Council have just completed a pilot project at a handful of secondary schools

  • Leigh falter after penalty

    Leigh RMI 1 Crawley 2 by David Magilton: LEIGH RMI's hopes of a flying-start to the season were dashed by two Charlie Macdonald goals, as Conference newcomers Crawley bounced back from a goal down to clinch victory. The Railwaymen were not helped by a

  • Name and shame the yobs

    RE your report (LET, August 11), headed "Teen yobs hit in raids." It's about time all this pussy footing about, and saying 'don't be a naughty boy' stopped. I agree with what police did before 8am that morning. Quick and quiet. They should really sort

  • Traffic warden was wonderful

    AFTER reading "Hit by the blue meanies" (LET, August 12), I feel I had to write to let you know about our dealings with a traffic warden in Southport. On a wet and windy Tuesday, (August 10), we parked on the sea front at Southport and paid 80p for one

  • Fundraising footballers net £2,000 in memory of Ernie

    A CHARITY football match in memory of one of Atherton's best loved characters has raised almost £2,000 for Manchester's Christie Hospital. Following the death of Ernie Ackers from cancer in July, 2003, his friends at Atherton Collieries FC, where he was

  • 'Move with the times' message to Church

    A VICAR has warned the Church could be in danger of collapse if it does not move with the times. The Rev Ed Saville of St Luke's Church, Brierfield, plans to take action by seeking the opinion of parishioners. He hopes to modernise the church in a bid

  • Teenager 'copycat' centre suicide suspected

    A YOUNG man has been found hanging in a suspected copycat suicide prompted by the death of a teenager in a detention centre. Dean Taylor, 20, disappeared on his way to work in Hapton after becoming depressed following his release from a young offenders

  • Fans can join the Clarets legends on walk

    CLARETS fans can help raise funds for community work and meet some of their heroes next month. The Burnley FC Leisure and Community Programme is hosting the 'Walk With The Legends' on Sunday, September 19. A number of ex-Clarets are set to join in the

  • Roadshow reach-out

    BURNLEY held its first community regeneration roadshow in a bid to reach residents in the heart of their neighbourhood. The event on Saturday was hailed an overwhelming success, with hundreds making the most of the first in a series of shows. Held at

  • Poignant tribute to biker Jeffrey

    A MAN whose brother died in a motorcycle accident got back on his bike for the first time in a year to complete a ride in his memory. And the charity event was so successful - with around 40 people taking part - it could become an annual event. Graem

  • Teenager 'copycat' centre suicide suspected

    A YOUNG man has been found hanging in a suspected copycat suicide prompted by the death of a teenager in a detention centre. Dean Taylor, 20, disappeared on his way to work in Hapton after becoming depressed following his release from a young offenders

  • 'People will have say on Elevate'

    PENDLE Council has reassured residents in Brierfield they will listen to their views on how Government regeneration cash will be spent. The council is consulting with people in the Brierfield canal corridor and the North Valley in Colne. Both will be

  • 'Move with the times' message to Church

    A VICAR has warned the Church could be in danger of collapse if it does not move with the times. The Rev Ed Saville of St Luke's Church, Brierfield, plans to take action by seeking the opinion of parishioners. He hopes to modernise the church in a bid

  • Down the years

    10 YEARS AGO CAMPAIGNING residents looked set to win their battle against a new road which would run through a Darwen beauty spot. Council chiefs gave their support saying the road for lorries to carry landfill to Thorny Height Quarry should be refused

  • 'Tell us your Cuttings views' plea

    THE Great Harwood Prospects Panel held a consolation over how the town's Railway Cuttings could be improved. It now plans to form an association of residents to look after the area's interests and suggest how the council-owned land could be used. Secretary

  • Opening date at long last for £1m centre

    A COMMUNITY centre which cost almost £1million to develop is to be officially opened next month. The long-awaited facility, at the former St James's School House, Cannon Street, Accrington, has been in the pipeline for 12 months. But the work is set to

  • 'Superb' festival day

    A CROWD of around 2,000 from various parts of Great Harwood joined in a community arts festival at the weekend. The event, which was the first of its kind in Hyndburn, was organised by police, Hyndburn Borough Council, youth and community services and

  • Stanley's shirts score success

    FANS from as far away as Israel and Australia have ordered Accrington Stanley kits as part of a boom in the club's popularity. Stanley's off-the-pitch fortunes are growing at the same rate as their fortunes on the pitch in the Nationwide Conference. Season

  • Bring me back an Olympic medal, pleads Beth

    PRESTWICH Olympic medal hopeful Adrian Turner has promised to do his best to fulfil the wish of his little pal, Beth Morris. Brave Beth (8), who has battled leukaemia, has asked Adrian to bring back a medal from Athens, just for her! Adrian's mum, Joyce

  • Why do we pay twice?

    AN investigation has been launched into why hundreds of people in the Ribble Valley are paying twice for some council tax services. The situation is believed to date from 1974 when Ribble Valley Council was created and parish and town councils were stripped

  • Clarets still not firing on all cylinders, says boss

    STEVE Cotterill insists Burnley are still not firing on all cylinders, despite picking up his first win as Burnley boss. The Clarets put in a storming second half performance to take all three points at Watford courtesy of Ian Moore's 64th header. Saturday's

  • Watford 0 Burnley 1

    DARREN BENTLEY reports. . . WHAT a difference a goal makes! This was threatening to turn into another of those frustrating afternoons for Ian Moore, whose blood levels must have been slowly simmering in the soaring temperatures. But just after the hour

  • Bury FC: Brian's happy with Shakers' flying start

    SHAKERS' new-boy Brian Barry-Murphy has praised his teammates for the battling qualities that have earned them four points from two tough opening games. The summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday has been a revelation in the Bury midfield since arriving

  • Chaplow is no-go say Rovers

    BLACKBURN Rovers have today rubbished reports linking them with a swoop for Burnley starlet Richard Chaplow. The 19-year-old midfielder recently signed a new four-year deal with the Clarets, and Rovers chief executive John Williams has denied making a

  • Solo Khan off to a flyer

    BRITAIN's only boxing representative at Athens - Bury's Amir Khan - easily beat Greek Marios Kaperonis in the first round of the lightweight boxing competition on Monday. The referee stopped the contest after one minute nine seconds of the third round

  • Family care service launched

    THE needs of young people and families will be catered for with the launch of a new care service in Rossendale and across East Lancashire. After two years of planning and consultation, Lancashire County Council Social Services has unveiled its redeveloped

  • Nathan in a spin as he bids to be world champion

    AN eight-year-old boy from Blackburn could become one of the country's youngest world champions when he takes part in a competition in New York. Nathan Haworth, of Peel Mount, Knuzden, a pupil at Intack Primary School will join other competitors in the

  • Your jobs are safe, paper workers told

    WORKERS at a Blackburn factory have been given assurances about their jobs after the closure of a similar plant in Burnley was announced. Managers at Smurfit in Whitebirk Drive are understood to have made the statement to staff after receivers moved into

  • Steve's all shook up over competition tribute to Elvis

    EAST LANCS' answer to the King of rock 'n' roll has branded a North West Elvis competition as nothing more than a 'karaoke contest'. Impersonator Steve Preston, of Haslingden, is to be filmed by Sky TV crews at an Anniversary Elvis Tribute show tonight

  • Men behind bars for attack on epileptic

    TWO men have been jailed for an attack which left an epilepsy sufferer with a blood clot on the brain. Burnley Crown Court heard how Bryn Reynolds and Simon Russell continued to beat victim Allan Pilkington while he was having a fit. Mr Pilkington was

  • Solo Khan off to a flyer

    BRITAIN's only boxing representative at Athens - Bury's Amir Khan - easily beat Greek Marios Kaperonis in the first round of the lightweight boxing competition on Monday. The referee stopped the contest after one minute nine seconds of the third round

  • Ten injured in car crash

    TEN people were injured, two seriously, after two cars crashed on the A56 Bury New Road in Bury. A Vauxhall Corsa collided with a Ford Escort Estate near the junction with Radcliffe New Road at 1.20pm on Saturday. Firefighters were called to help free