IT would be impossible not to be impressed by the one hour long series of self-penned monologues by Rani Moorthy in Shades of Brown. After taking her lonely seat in the centre of the Library stage at the start of the production she barely took a moment
SEVENTEEN dealers from East Lancashire's biggest drugs gang have been jailed for a total of 85 years. The Nez gang - named after the nickname of ringleader Naheem Nazir - supplied almost all the cocaine and crack-cocaine in the Blackburn area. Its
ACCRINGTON'S Christmas lights were switched on with a bang last night as a spectacular fireworks display signalled the beginning of the festive period. Hundreds of revellers braved the icy conditions to see appearances from Spice Girls tribute act Spice
Over the next four months huge transporters will be emerging from the A56 onto the Woolpack roundabout on their way to Edenfield and Scout Moor. The operation will take place between 10am and 2pm as the juggernauts head down Manchester Road so traffic
STEVE Davis will return to his old job as Clarets first-team coach under the Owen Coyle regime. Coyle revealed that Clarets favourite Davis - who took over as caretaker boss following Steve Cotterill's departure earlier this month - remains an integral
A PENSIONER suffered serious head injuries after allegedly being attacked by a girl who police believe he may have known. Police are investigating whether the youngster had "got to know" the 77-year-old before the incident, which happened both in his
A 59-YEAR-OLD Blackburn man who had worked as a maintenance engineer in a mill, and for a car exhaust firm, died of an asbestos-related cancer. An inquest heard that William Power, of Lawrence Street, had worked at Roe Lee Mill, and for the exhaust manufacturer
A MAJOR new art centre is set to be created in Nelson after regional development chiefs awarded the scheme £1.2m. Officials from the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) have written to Pendle council to confirm that the authority has secured the funding
A NEW strategy for tackling the problem of children being groomed for sex is set to be drawn up following a high-powered conference. Nearly 200 delegates from organisations including Lancashire Police, Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Blackburn
A COMMUNITY centre has been given a makeover by volunteers. The Ghausia Centre in Abel Street, Burnley, was spruced up by a team led by Steve Moore and Ammad Akram of Bovis Lend Lease, who are working on the Building Schools for the Future project.
AN effort by environmental campaigners to preserve playing fields in Pendle by declaring it a town green looks doomed to fail. Education chiefs want to use Benthead Playing Fields, in Brierfield, as part of a swap deal with owners Pendle Council, so
A FORMER servicewoman has been spared jail after the man she beat unconscious spoke up in her defence. Deborah Barnes repeatedly struck partner William O'Reilly, who is an ex-paratrooper, over the head with an ashtray until he fell unconscious, Burnley
PARENTS are being given the chance to find out more about plans for two schools to share a single site as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme. Blackburn with Darwen Council has organised a drop-in session at Crosshill Special School
TWO youths who set fire to a school, causing more than £1million of damage have been sentenced to two years and eight months detention. The blaze at Darwen Moorland High School in July last year gutted the school hall and left 55 classrooms damaged
A LORRY driver whose 39 tonne vehicle overturned onto a car killing the woman driver has denied speeding through changing traffic lights. Brian Kynaston said that the lights had been on green and he did not know that his consignment of scrap fridges
The adult members and parents of Mellor St. Mary's Church Choir are to attend a dinner at Stanley House, Mellor on Friday the 30th Novmber. There will be also a surprise guest speaker!
A SAMURAI sword-wielding maniac has been jailed for over three years after attacking a man in the street. Jahangir Khan, 34, left a 21-year-old man with a three-inch gash to his head but police said he was "very lucky" not to be more seriously injured
A REPLICA of a clock that helped establish navigational tools in the 17th century has gone on display at Towneley Hall. The clock was unveiled on Wednesday to celebrate the achievement of Richard Towneley, a former owner of the hall who helped design
DRIVERS have complained that Whitebirk roundabout has become a "nightmare" as work to improve it continues. The roundabout, at the border of Blackburn and Hyndburn at junction six of the M65, is undergoing a £2million improvement project to widen roads
A DEVELOPMENT of luxury apartments in Helmshore is beginning to take shape, with construction now well underway. Alden Brook is a development of 30 apartments and penthouses, and the first few have been released for sale. The Free Lane development,
Residents are being encouraged to support a bid to bring a major investment to the area. A disused railway between Rosegrove, Burnley, and Padiham could be trans-formed into parkland and a foot and bicycle link if a national television vote goes in its
A MAN has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with violent disorder and wounding after an incident in a shop in Hereford Road. Nasser Malik Khan, of St James Road, was sent to Preston Crown Court. Magistrates heard that one man had already
A MAN who answered his door naked after becoming "sick and tired" of Hallowe'en trick or treaters has been placed on the sex offenders' register for two years. William James Andrews was also given a conditional discharged for two years after pleading
WOODCOCKS solicitors in Rawtenstall are spreading some Christmas cheer by sponsoring a trolley dash in aid of Rossendale Hospice. The dash is the first prize in the hospice's first Christmas draw and tickets are selling fast. Woodcocks partner David
A MAN has been arrested after he was accused of rape. Initial allegations of assault against a woman in Nelson developed into allegations of rape during police inquiries, and the man was arrested and remains in Burnley police custody awaiting interview
A TRAVELLERS' site which has been set up on green belt land without planning permission, is to be closed down. The fields, off Sough Lane, Oswaldtwistle are "a hell of a mess" a meeting of Hyndburn planning committee heard. Local residents packed the
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has spoken of his outrage after it was confirmed farmers will have to pay an extra £40million to deal with outbreaks of animal diseases. Mr Evans spoke at Westminster when it was announced that the sum of £40million to the
As a prelude to Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Services Love Month' in February 2008, we want to know what your favourite Mills & Boon category is. Perhaps you love the Modern Romance' with tales of sheiks and wealthy businessmen. Or maybe
As a prelude to Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Services Love Month' in February 2008, we want to know what your favourite Mills & Boon category is. Perhaps you love the Modern Romance' with tales of sheiks and wealthy businessmen. Or
A FORMER finance officer who claims she was sacked by a Christian charity for not believing in God, was subjected to a number of indignities, a tribunal was told . And Karen Deighton said she was victimised when she tried to blow the whistle over a
A POPULAR pub, once run by former Burnley FC boss Stan Ternent, has been placed on the market by brewery bosses. New landlords are being sought for the historic Thornton Arms, on Brownside Road, by the pub enterprises arm of brewing giants Scottish
JONNY Lang signed off the season in sensational style in the sun-kissed surroundings of Dubai. And, running with Dutchman Rory Bertrum, the Nelson flier achieved his best results of the year in the FIA GT3 European Championship, finishing second and
MP Nigel Evans has slammed the Government over the scandal of the missing CDs which contained personal information on millions of people. The discs hold sensitive data on 25million people - including names, addresses, dates of birth, child benefit numbers
BLEAKHOLT Animal Sanctuary is opening a new high-dependency cat unit costing more than £250,000. The Edenfield rescue centre can accommodate up to 250 cats, so the potential for cross contamination from newly arrived sick animals is high. To combat
A GROUP of eco-friendly youngsters have designed window blinds which colect solar power - and they could win £20,000 worth of equipment for their school. The year seven pupils from Blakewater College, Blackburn, has beaten more than 100 entries from
WHERE do you get the best tomatoes in Britain? The best oysters, the best turbot? The best spuds? Where can you buy some of the freshest roast coffee beans in the UK? My answer to all these questions is - Blackburn. No, I've not gone soft. I love my
CONTROVERSIAL plans to merge Blackburn's annual Mela and Arts in the Park events are to be discussed at an extraordinary council meeting. The move, prompted opposition Labour councillors, has been branded "political nonsense" by Tory council leader
AN ELDERLY woman has not returned to her home after a burglar stole £1,500 worth of sentimental jewellery including her husband's war medals. Burnley Magistrates were told how James Rickwood broke into the great grandmother's house and stole her mother's
A BURNLEY man killed himself by injecting a hit of heroin which was almost double the lethal limit, an inquest heard. Jason Stuart Charles Cawtherley, 36, of Anglesey Avenue, died on March 21, 2007. The inquest at Burnley Magistrates Court heard his
POLICE will hand out free purse alarms at Sainsburys, Darwen, on Monday December 3, from 1pm to 2pm. They will also be in Darwen Market on December 8 from 1pm to 2pm to raise awareness about protection against theft. A number of market traders have
Autumn Art and Photographic Exhibition This local family run business opened its doors to an exhibition of local artists on the 9th of November 2007, the event was extremely well attended and many positive comments were expressed
OWEN Coyle has been unveiled as the new manager of Burnley. The former St Johnstone boss was named as the club's new first team manager at a press conference at Turf Moor at 11am. He has replaced former boss Steve Cotterill, who left the club by mutual
CHRIS McCann's international future could be in tatters after the Clarets midfielder was sent home from the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad just hours before their match with Bulgaria. The 20-year-old was blasted by Ireland U21 boss Don Givens after
AN asylum seeker who threatened to go on hunger strike until his application was proces-sed has given politicians a reprieve. Riad Arnaoot, 35, of Oakenhurst Road, Blackburn, had been expected to be granted permanent residence in the UK this year. But
HEALTH chiefs have hit out at plans for another overhaul of patient liaison. From April next year, local Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forums, which allow members of the public to have their say on health priorities, are set to be replaced. Their
GIRL power will help launch the festive season in Accrington tonight at the annual Christmas lights switch-on. Spice Girls tribute act Spice Unite will be performing and there will also be an appearance from the cast of the town's pantomime Jack and
BLACKBURN College's record label On Song has worked with a chart band for a live recording session. Up-and-coming rock outfit Boy Kill Boy were at the college last week. The East London band released their debut single Suzie in May 2005, and reached
OWEN Coyle is a natural born winner. That's the view of Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall, who gave the new Burnley boss his first coaching job when he was at Dundee United in 2003. Coyle is expected to be unveiled as the new Clarets boss this morning
WITH regard to the article on the removal of graves from St Peter's Church, Blackburn. I fear any protest will fall on deaf ears as, although a planning application has yet to be lodged, Blackburn with Darwen Council will use the big stick and compulsorily
THE article "Fluoride case grows stronger" (LT, November 16) reported that health bosses are considering adding the chemical fluoride to East Lancashire's water supply. I thought I should mention a new concern on fluoridation. The website of the American
FOR the past 18 months I have been receiving treatment at the new Royal Blackburn Hospital. My treatment has been given with care and full support. I have nothing but praise for the reproductive clinic and the team based at Blackburn. My consultant
I AM absolutely shocked at the supportive comments being made to Blackburn with Darwen Councillor Arif Waghat over his conviction for benefit fraud. He has committed an offence against the state, the same state whose democratic process had allowed him
ST JOHNSTONE veteran Derek McInnes insists Owen Coyle will have a burning ambition to steer Burnley into the Premier League. Coyle is set to be announced as the new Clarets manager this morning before taking charge of his first Championship game at Stoke
STRIKER Matt Derbyshire faces a second scan on his injured thigh today - but Blackburn Rovers are hopeful he will be fit for this weekend's Premiership clash against Fulham. Derbyshire was pulled out of England Under 21's game against Portugal on Tuesday
Well I hate to say I told you so, but last night I, along with millions of other ordinary English football fans showed that all along we knew something that Brian Barwick and his highly paid associates did not: Steve McClaren is not, and never has been
The Football Association have called a press conference for 0945, at which they are expected to announce the dismissal of England coach Steve McClaren. A hastily arranged FA board meeting at Soho Square appears to have rubber-stamped McClaren's departure
A FIRE which was deliberately started in a camper van quickly spread to a nearby mill. Crews were called to Clement Street, Accrington, when a police officer noticed a glow coming from the van at 1.20am today . By the time they arrived, the fire had
STANLEY boss John Coleman is hoping Lee McEvilly's loan move to Rochdale can kick-start his career. The 25-year-old hitman joined Dale on loan until January, with an option to extend it until the end of the season. And Coleman is hopeful that getting
