Dundee United have dropped their interest in Darwen-born striker Chris Porter. The 23-year-old has held off from signing a new contract at Oldham and was available on a free transfer, providing he moved outside England. He would have to wait until turning
THE body of a 78-year-old Burnley man was found in the River Don at 4.30pm today. David Halstead, of Parker Street, Harle Syke, was last seen by his wife yesterday when he left home for a walk. The alarm was raised when he did not return home for his
Wigan have completed the £300,000 transfer of goalkeeper Carlo Nash on a two-year deal from Preston. The 33-year-old, who played for Clitheroe and Rossendale United, was put on the transfer list at the end of the season, having fallen out with North
PROSPECTIVE stud-ents can take a look around the new £12million facilities at Accrington and Rossendale college at an open day on Saturday. The event will allow the public to look around the campus and catch a glimpse of the Coppice Centre. This will
CLUBBERS are to be sprayed with the scent of freshly cut grass to hide the smell of sweat and stale beer after the new smoking ban begins. Nightclub bosses are so concerned about the absence of cigarette smoke to disguise other odours that they have
Lancashire all-rounder Tom Smith ripped the heart out of Yorkshire's batting reply to gift his side a crucial Twenty20 Cup win over their Roses rivals at Old Trafford tonight. The 21-year-old former Chorley player was brought into the fold at a crucial
TWO men who committed most of their crimes at night have been given Anti-Social Behaviour Orders banning them from going out in the early hours. Joseph Farrelly Phillips, 37, and Jason McCourt, 35, were made subject to the order after police said they
A 16-YEAR-OLD Blackburn lad has swapped the rugby scrum for the running track - and Jamie Jordan is now looking forward to representing his country at an international event. A prop forward, Jamie had been a rugby enthusiast since the age of seven, representing
Horse riders have adopted their own pet lamb - after rescuing it when it was left for dead. And now the waif, named Shaun the Sheep after the character in the Wallace and Gromit film A Close Shave, is to be the focus of a charity concert - Lamb Aid.
Mums and babies made a real splash when they took part in a splashathon for Tommy's at Tor View Special School, Clod Lane, Haslingden. The charity works to save babies' lives through funding research into and providing information on the causes and prevention
CHORLEY'S Nick Dougherty is looking for some French flair this week to help claim a place at the Open Championship. The on-form 25-year-old needs a top-five finish in the French Open to have any hopes of securing an automatic place at Carnoustie. And
PLANS to build houses at a former garage site look set to be turned down. The 11 three-storey terraced houses proposed for Cobden Street, Nelson, will go before Pendle Council's Nelson Committee on Monday. But planning officer Kathryn Hughes recommended
EAST Lancashire's favourite weatherman has given an insight into why the area largely escaped the deluge with left parts of the UK under feet of water. This week floods have caused millions of pounds of damage, with the worst hit areas being Yorkshire
A CONSULTANT psychiatrist has been found guilty of mistakes over the release of a mental health patient just weeks before he shot dead a childhood friend. But allegations that he acted inappropriately, put the public at risk, and that his conduct was
A DERELICT site looks set to be redeveloped as a care home despite objections from residents. Plans for a 60-bed care home at land off Lowthwaite Drive, Nelson, were turned down by Pendle councillors last year after neighbours packed the council chamber
DEPRIVED residents are being given lessons in managing their money in a bid to reduce high levels of debt. The free scheme has been set up by the East Lancashire Learning Partnership and East Lancashire Adult Learning and is offered in the form of
COMPETITORS from Down Under made a clean sweep of the top prizes at the Pleasington Putter competition at the weekend. Stacy Keating, from Victoria, took the first prize as she carded a 36-hole 147 to beat fellow Aussie Emma Bennett by two strokes.
A FLOWER shop in Darwen is enjoying the sweet smell of success after winning an excellence award. Hodkinson's the Florist, of Duckworth Street, entered the Flower Shop of the Year 2007 Awards and scooped a silver award of excellence. To get the award
SUPPORT for a campaign to stop a wind farm on the moors above Bacup and Todmorden is gathering pace with a visit from a Euro MP. Sir Robert Atkins MEP and Conservative prospective parlia-mentary candidate Jake Berry, will visit the Reaps Moss site today
POLICE are growing concerned for a missing 78-year-old man who has not been seen for two days. David Halstead, of Parker Street, Harle Syke, was last seen by his wife on Tuesday when he left his home address for a walk. Police said Mr Halstead was
A woman caught up in another couple's dispute ended up being hit in the face with a handbag by someone who had been a friend since school days. Blackburn magistrates heard that the first thing Franka Clough did when she was arrested for assaulting Kelly
CLITHEROE manager Neil Reynolds is confident the club can make its mark in the revamped UniBond First Division next season following the arrival of six new faces. The Shawbridge chief has been active on the transfer front, swooping to sign Rossendale
A VOLUNTARY worker who was an "inspiration" to others has died at the age of 22. Andrew White, of Arthur Street, Nelson, suffered from long QT syndrome, a disorder affecting the heart's rhythm. His illness had left him weakened. Andrew died in Burnley
A PROTEST against British-born novelist Salman Rushdie being awarded a knighthood is being organised for Blackburn next month. Muslims are due to demonstrate outside Blackburn Town Hall on July 21. The controversial novelist was appointed a Knight Bachelor
A BANNED motorist took his stepfather's car while over-the-limit and then crashed it, a court has heard. Burnley magistrates heard how Kurt Marsden, 21, crashed after providing the music, which was coming from the vehicle, at a barbecue. The victim
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular former Burnley pub landlord who died in his sleep at the age of 91. Family man Ernest Hutchinson, who lived in the Rosegrove area of Burnley, ran pubs in town for over 40 years. Ernest was best known for being the
Wigan have completed the £300,000 transfer of goalkeeper Carlo Nash on a two-year deal from Preston. The 33-year-old, who played for Clitheroe and Rossendale United, was put on the transfer list at the end of the season, having fallen out with North
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to expand an out-of-town retail park has been thrown out by councillors. The move came after protests about the "detrimental impact" the scheme would have on town centre shops in Accrington and Blackburn. Manchester-based Peel Holdings
A THUG described as having a "complete lack of regard for fellow citizens" had a prison sentence reduced on appeal. Wesley Phillip Hall, 24, of Edward Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court in November last year to theft, battery and
A FORMER casino worker died after accidentally falling off the edge of a quarry, an inquest heard. Andrew Thompson, 33, who had a history of mental illnes and had previously taken an overdose while working as a croupier in Manchester, fell to his death
A MISSING mum who returned to her family in time to celebrate her son's birthday has said: "I am just glad to be back home." Alison Houghton, 42, disappeared for four days after becoming overwhelmed by mounting bills and the stress of her youngest son's
SUPPORTERS of a family of asylum seekers have reacted with anger after they were arrested and taken to a detention centre for deportation. Police and immigration officials detained the Karims in a dramatic dawn swoop at their Nelson home in Arthur Street
VILLAGERS could face increased tax bills if grants cannot be found to fund safety improvements to a graveyard. Worsthorne residents could foot the bill for the £16,904 of work needed at the graveyard from the former Methodist church. A report by Burnley
TAX-payers have been told they will not have to fork out a penny to fund a council's name change. Residents in Hyndburn have raised concerns that they will have to foot the bill following the ann-ouncement that the borough council intends to change its
THE man accused of murdering a schoolgirl will not be giving evidence at his trial. After the prosecution closed its case at Preston Crown Court today, Iyad Albattikhi's Queens Counsel Iain Goldrein said the defendant elected to exercise his right
A 66-year-old Clitheroe woman killed herself because she could not live without her late husband, an inquest was told. An inquest heard that retired nurse Bernadette Margaret Wilson died after taking a cocktail of medication and left a note for her children
BURNLEY fire crews were called to help efforts in South Yorkshire as torrential rainfall caused flooding. The fire station in Belvedere Road is the only one in Lancashire with a pump which can take very large volumes of water away from a site. They
A COUNCILLOR has called for action after almost 20,000 people were left without power for two hours. Electricity was cut off across Barnoldswick, Earby and the surrounding villages just before noon on Tuesday, and was not switched back on until two hours
POLITICAL leaders have described the news that 200 jobs are set go with the closure of the Helmshore MyTravel call centre as a huge blow. The move follows MyTravel's £2.8 billion merger with German-owned rival Thomas Cook earlier this month. More than
THE reasons why Darwen needs a new academy have become caught up in controversy - and children will suffer as a result, a public inquiry was told. Simon Huggill representing Redearth Triangle residents, said the aim of tackling deprivation and improving
A BOY aged about nine is believed to have been amongst a gang of youths who stole a mobile phone from a schoolboy in Thompson Park, Burnley. Police have appealed for witnesses after an 11-year-old was ambushed. The boy, who has been left shaken and
HOUSING landlords clashed with a council over plans to introduce tougher controls in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour among tenants. The East Lancashire Landlord Association criticised Burnley Council for "failing to consult" members before introducing
A HARD-up mother of three went out shoplifting to get cash for shoes for her disabled son, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how Clare Myra Forbes' little boy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, needed a new pair of shoes almost every week.
A SHOPKEEPER got a £75 fine for littering after she ripped up a parking ticket and threw it on the floor outside her business. Sarah Conley, owner of Ginger Muffin sandwich shop, Sudell Cross, Blackburn, faces the bill on top of the original £30 penalty
AMBITIOUS plans for a £13million lakeland holiday village on the outskirts of Blackburn are facing opposition from neighbours. More than 180 people have put their names to a protest petition to fight proposals for a 112-acre leisure complex on land off
BURNLEY recently welcomed 11 new players into the fold - young teenagers who they hope to develop through the youth system over the next two years. And I cannot stress enough the importance of making sure one of these, at the very least, makes the grade
HUNDREDS of hepatitis C sufferers in Blackburn and Darwen will benefit from the launch of an innovative information scheme. The new eLearning' resource, pioneered by the borough's primary care trust, is the only one of its kind in the North West. And
A 21-year-old man has been charged with a "car-jacking" robbery after a man on his way to the mosque was allegedly dragged from his vehicle. Naveed Hussain Shah is also charged with a handbag robbery later the same day last Friday and unlawful imprisonment
CHORLEY golfers Sean Nicholls and Tom Stuart have been selected to play for England Schools in the international match against Scotland in September. They both recorded high finishes in Monday night's English Finals at Walsall and for Nicholls, a member
A YOUNG driver is to be questioned by police over an accident after officers revealed they believe speed was a factor. The 20-year-old was taken to hospital suffering from face and head injuries after his Vauxhall Corsa crashed into a parked van near
A LUXURY car franchise has announced it is relocating from East Lancashire to a £2million custom-built showroom in Preston. The prestigious Ribble Valley Bentley is due to move from its current premises in Rishton at the end of 2008. However, the Harwood
LANCASHIRE seamer James Anderson says he's relishing England's Twenty20 cam-paign despite suffering at the hands of the Aussies in the winter. In his only Twenty20 international to date, the Burnley paceman went for 64 from his four overs as England
JONNY Schofield will be hitting the rapids again in a bid to clinch gold in the European Championships this weekend. The 21-year-old canoeist from Sawley is part of the Great Britain team looking to win the European crown in Pontevedra, Spain. He will
BRONZE Powders - when is this corporate destruction going to stop?150 Darwen people cast adrift without a thought for their welfare or future, all this so a company can corner the European market. The same thing happened to Belgrave, it happened to Relief
MAY I, through the pages of your paper, appeal to those who are holidaying in Spain this year not to go to the bullfight. It is a cruel form of "traditional entertainment." It ought to be illegal. Of the Spanish population, 72 per cent (Mori Poll) have
SINCE mid-March this year, 50 horses have died on racecourses across the country. During each season, for every 31 horses who start racing, one will become a death statistic. Adapi is an 11-year-old chestnut gelding who has raced 99 times in nine-years
THE recent call by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly for local authorities to move away from routinely translating documents into languages other than English should be opposed on moral grounds, since doing so will adversely impact on black and minority
PAUL Houldsworth believes the Great Harwood machine is beginning to click into gear as they look to mount a serious Senior League title challenge this season. The club suffered an uncertain start to the season as they had to rely for several weeks on
I WAS pleased to hear that Mark Hughes has cooled his interest in Shabani Nonda because I can think of plenty of better ways to spend £2 million. If you want me to be totally honest, I was never a huge fan of Nonda's in the first place, even when he
BESART Berisha is desperate for his move to Burnley to get the go-ahead, according to his agent Henner Janzen. The Albanian international is waiting for the outcome of tomorrow's work permit hearing before letting the celebrations of securing a three-year
BLACKBURN Rovers' bold decision to slash ticket prices is starting to pay handsome dividends after the club revealed season ticket sales have surpassed last season's total. After the club announced groundbreaking price reductions of up to 25 per cent
SUPPORTERS of a family of asylum seekers have reacted with anger after they were arrested and taken to a detention centre for deportation. Police and immigration officials detained the Karims in a dramatic dawn swoop at their Nelson home in Arthur Street
NEARLY £600million is to be spent transforming East Lancashire over the next three years. Regeneration body North West Developments Agency has set aside £49million to breathe new life into the area and it is now trying to attract another £520million
MUSLIM pupils are being urged to boycott school meals containing meat over fears it may not be halal. The Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM) has written to all mosques in the county and urged parents to ensure their children stick to vegetarian options
NEARLY half of teenagers drink alcohol once a week - although the figure is dropping, a survey suggests. A survey by Trading Standards in the north west found 44 per cent of teenagers drink at least once a week. These figures represented a fall from
BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw could be set for a new job as Prime Minister Tony Blair steps down from office. Gordon Brown is to be officially appointed as Mr Blair's successor when he resigns as PM later today. Mr Blair is also expected to resign as a MP.
AN East Lancashire restaurateur has announced a £3million expansion plan across the North West. Heathcotes, owned by acclaimed chef Paul Heathcote, is to open three new restaurants and refurbish its existing portfolio. Mr Heathcote, who started out
