A BODY set up to promote women in business has broken away from its parent group - the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. The Unique business networking group was set up by the chamber about four years ago to promote and support women in business.
A COUPLE of inventors have netted a winner after dreaming up a football board game in their spare time. Jason Li, 21, and Paula Slinger, 28, formed Natchos Ltd to market their On The Ball game - where players create a team of players by successfully
WE'VE been talking about it for so long, but the win's got to come this weekend. I don't want to put too much pressure on the players, but it's the big one tomorrow - we've got to get three points against Crystal Palace. It's imperative. Looking at
A 20-year-old Clitheroe woman who repeatedly breached anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) is facing another prison sentence. Blackburn magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient to deal with Rachael Linford who they said had shown
RUSSIAN spies drew up detailed maps of East Lancashire in readiness for a Soviet invasion on Britain. Newly-released maps created during the Cold War show the KGB studied Blackburn, Burnley and Padiham. The maps were to prepare communist forces for
CHILDREN as young as 11 are using drugs, drinking beer and intimidating users of Darwen train station, passengers say. But it is hoped that soon-to-be-installed CCTV could help tackle the problem. Gillian Pimblett, 43, of Wyre Crescent was waiting
EVERY footballer, from every level, suffers a crisis of confidence. Even players at the very top of their profession. Take Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, for example. The young Spaniard recalled one game he played alongside Patrick Vieira, after which he
A NELSON-born teenager has spoken of his relief after walking free from court having been accused of kicking a 13-year-old school-boy to death. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was one of seven teenagers charged with the murder
BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill is desperate to end three months of hurt. The Clarets boss admits he has found the 14-game winless run hard going and is eager to put an end to that pain when his side entertain Crystal Palace tomorrow. But Cotterill
SCHOOL bus services may be saved by combining routes, councillors said. Pendle Council is campaigning against the planned axing of services throughout the borough, saying it will increase congestion and put children at risk. The Lancashire Local committee
A WOMAN has been arrested on a child abduction charge as she allegedly tried to board a plane with a young boy. Claudia Yokana Fontes Marques, 24, of Audley Range, Blackburn, was stopped by police at Manchester Airport as she allegedly prepared to get
A CANCER sufferer who is due to become mayor has not requested a new treatment drug on the NHS because of a "postcode lottery." And former firefighter Peter Gill, 57, said he could understand the difficulty the Government had in deciding which drugs
SECURITY cameras in Todmorden are to be extended. Calderdale Council have agreed to pay the full costs for Todmorden Town Council and Hebden Bridge installing their CCTV security equipment. The decision was described as "very good news" by the Todmorden
A FATHER-of-two left his estranged wife afraid and upset in a campaign of intimidation after their 19-year relationship broke down, a court was told. Burnley Magistrates heard how Nicholas Wayne Smith, 39, assaulted victim Susan Smith, persistently sent
COUNCIL tax in Rossendale will increase by 5.1 per cent in total. Councillors voted to approve the figures, which will mean council tax for a Band D property will go up to £1,468.91, at a special budget meeting on Wednesday. Rossendale Council's own
A teenager got into a struggle with police after he was accused of stealing money from a pub competition. Burnley magistrates heard how Liam O'Callaghan, 19, grappled with a policewoman following trouble at The Clayton Arms in Nelson. O'Callaghan lost
TARGETING known offenders and successful community initiatives have led to a 16 per cent fall in crime in Pendle. Violent crime is down by 23 per cent, vandalism by 17 per cent and house burglary by 14 per cent, said Inspector John Puttock of Pendle
THE thrills and spills of every single match played by Burnley FC since the club was founded in 1882 have been recorded in a new book. Club historian Ray Simpson has documented the highs and lows on the pitch for the past 125 years in The Clarets Chronicles
The mayor of Burnley, Coun Mohammed Najib, welcomed members of British Councils from Norway and India this week. Coun Najib said: "The representatives came on a fact-finding mission to find out how things work here in Burnley. "They came to the town
WORK on a leaking spire at Edgworth Methodist Church should start in the summer. The congregation has so far raised around £13,500 to fix the spire and is looking for around £5,000 more before work starts. Treasurer Richard Pike said: "We have got
WEEKS of high winds have blown a massive hole in Hyndburn Council's waste recycling scheme. And the problem has meant pensioners Ted and Irene Barnes have had their missing container replaced with the last available bin in the borough. High winds over
JOHN Coleman insists his Accrington Stanley side will keep on scrapping until they are out of relegation trouble. The Reds make the short journey to North West rivals Rochdale tomorrow aiming to clinch three precious points and put greater distance between
BLACKBURN Rovers deserve to be applauded for seizing the initiative in the drive to bring down ticket prices. Over the last few weeks, we've seen various national newspapers launch campaigns to try and make football more affordable, and I'm proud to
A PUB was evacuated after a suspected would-be arsonist poured five litres of petrol down a nearby drain. Burned paper was found near the drain and a lighter was discovered inside the drain outside The Navigation Inn , Canal Street, Blackburn. A spokesperson
THE men behind a controversial mosque plan have launched their own radio show to give residents the chance to speak out over local issues. Farouk Hussain and Sheraz Arshad were the driving force behind the Clitheroe mosque scheme, which finally resulted
AN INTER-faith walk which brought different religions together for a stroll through the streets of Hyndburn has been hailed as a great success. More than 250 people from Accrington's Raza Jamia Mosque, Grimshaw Street, and St Peter's Church, Richmond
A SHOPKEEPER risked blowing up himself and his customers after storing cardboard boxes full of fireworks beside an electric heater, a court was told. Salamat Hussain Jeru, 38, of Britain News, Accrington Road, Blackburn, also stored matches, cigarette
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is convinced he has snapped up one of the best bargains of the Premiership season after yet another towering performance from 6ft 5ins defender Chris Samba. The Congo defender earned rave reviews for the way in which he snuffed
Michael Bisping, from Clitheroe, who went to St Augustine's High School in Billington, has become one of the leading stars in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His last fight was watched by 20,000 fans with another 10 million Americans tuning
A FORMER Rossendale school which is being transformed into luxury apartments will open its doors for the first time this weekend (3rd and 4th). Originally a Victorian mansion house and latterly used as a school, Lea Bank in Rawtenstall is being converted
IMPROVEMENTS will be made to hospital services for children in East Lancashire after they were rated "fair" by inspectors, an NHS boss has said. The authority which runs hospitals in the area was given four ratings of fair, one of weak and one of excellent
A MINOR explosion occurred on a footpath in Lower Darwen yesterday. Firefighters and police were called to Fore Street, just after 2.30pm after a loud bang was reported. It is thought a build-up of gas or water reaching an electrical cable ripped open
A SEA of smiling young faces greeted Princess Anne when she arrived to visit a carers' centre in Blackburn today. Under clear blue skies, the Queen's daughter, arrived for a visit to Blackburn with Darwen Council's Carers Centre in Oakenhurst Road, off
JOHN Coleman admits he has every faith in Przemyslaw Kazimierczak ahead of Accrington Stanley's crunch League Two clash at Rochdale tomorrow. The Poland Under 20 goalkeeper signed a one-month extension to his loan deal at the Fraser Eagle Stadium club
BENNI McCarthy has vowed to dig deep and put in the extra miles in a bid to play himself back into favour with Blackburn manager Mark Hughes. The former Porto ace was dropped for Wednesdays night's fifth round FA Cup replay with Arsenal, but instead
A MAN has been arrested in connection with a spate of assaults on women last week. Four women were assaulted in separate incidents while walking around Burnley centre in the early morning. Police said they believe the attacks are connected because of
RE the letter Help stop animal experiments. I fully agree with Kate Fowler-Reeves' comments about cruel and useless experiments. It has been admitted that animals and humans have different reactions to drugs, and that humans have died because of adverse
RECENTLY the Royal Blackburn Hospital revamped the car park and entrance to the disabled car park. But we have been given fewer spaces. I have written to the trust, pointing out how far it is for my disabled wife to travel to the entrance and that the
WHAT a pity Bolton Wanderers couldn't return the favour by offering Blackburn fans tickets at the Reebok for £15 for the match on March 4, as we did earlier in the season at Ewood. At £32 for an adult ticket they will probably only sell about 500 tickets
WITH regards your Musical Map of East Lancashire. Some of the acts I remember seeing locally in the 70s and 80s were the Sex Pistols at the Lodestar, also the Boomtown Rats at the Lodestar. The Rats played on a Thursday evening. They turned up but their
THE European Commission has dropped legal action which forced a Pendle dairy to close with the loss of 23 jobs. Bowland Dairy Products, Pasture Lane, Barrowford, shut after the EC said the dairy's cheese curds contained antibiotic traces that were
FAX machines are hardly top of the list of most wanted gadgets nowadays, but Burnley will thank their lucky stars that Steven Caldwell was able to get his hands on one on transfer deadline day to complete a late move from Sunderland. The 26-year-old
STAFF at an East Lancashire tax office are to be given a fighting chance' of keeping their jobs ahead of potential cuts being made in a service review. Workers at Accrington's HM Revenue and Customs office had been concerned they would be laid off in
POLICE in Rossendale are appealing for witnesses after an attempted robbery at the BP service station, in Bacup Road, Waterfoot. Two raiders attacked a security guard with a hammer, although he suffered only minor injuries in the incident shortly after
How can a simple argument over a plate lead to such a life-changing admission? I have come to a decision that women are generally cleverer than men. They are better at everything than we are. In fact if you pitted two men against two women the two guys
By Karen Wright. The trials and tribulations The things you put me through The fun times and the laughter Since the day we said I do. I love you most sincerely Though I sometimes wonder why The things you say and do Quite often make me cry
SIX people have been convicted of violent disorder after a "vicious" large-scale pub fight. A woman suffered head injuries after she was attacked during the disturbance at a karaoke night at the Brownhill Arms, Blackburn, on Sunday, October 23. Melanie
LANCASHIRE motorists have been advised to fill up with enough petrol for return journeys south to avoid problems with fuel. An investigation has been launched after thousands of drivers claimed their vehicles had broken down after being sold contaminated
A brave worker had her hair shaved off for charity and raised £170. Janet Duff, a machinist at textile firm Herbert Parkinson, Darwen, saw her locks chopped off by yarn stockman Charlie Shingadia as part of a charity week organised by the company's parent
LIKE most TV viewers I'm no fan of repeats but they do come in handy if, like me, you set the video for the wrong channel on Sunday night! So rather than having to miss out on my weekly Top Gear fix, last night I was able sit back and chuckle along with
BLACKBURN Rovers today delivered on their promise to slash prices by announcing a 25 per cent reduction in the cost of adult season tickets for next season. Chairman John Williams has been at the forefront of the great gate debate' in recent months,
PRINCESS Anne is set to visit a carers centre in Blackburn today. The Princess Royal was invited to The Carers Centre, Oakenhurst Road, at 10.30am for a hour-and-a-quarter tour. During the visit she was meeting carers, support workers as well as council
TWO Clitheroe men have appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with assaults on taxi drivers. Gary Lee Haslam, 36, of Talbot Close, is charged with assaulting Naeem Ahmed and damaging a wing mirror on his car. Darren Lee Allen, 35, of Richmond
THE BODY of a Chorley Royal Marine, killed by a landmine in Afghanistan, has been returned to his family. Jonathan "Dutchy" Holland, 23, of 45 Commando was killed last Wednesday while on patrol in the Sangin Valley in the country's notoriously dangerous
THOUSANDS of pounds are up for grabs by community groups across East Lancashire, thanks to a charitable trust set up by this newspaper's parent company. Twice a year the Gannett Foundation awards cash grants to help special projects get off the ground
A DAD is facing his greatest fear to help buy equipment for a children's hospital which could help his daughter. Mark Allan has a fear of heights but will be undertaking a parachute jump for the Five Stars Appeal. It aims to buy a new £1million MRI
