Archive
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Jimmy is baby of the family at 80!
LIFELONG Rovers fan Jimmy Yates will celebrate his 80th birthday at Ewood Park on Sunday - surrounded by his four elder brother and sisters. Jimmy's children, Doreen and James, have organised the party at the Blues Bar and top of the guest list are his
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M-way blocked
A CAR hit the central reservation on the M65 westbound at Riley Green early today and blocked one lane near junction three between Blackburn and Preston at 7.45am. The road was cleared within an hour. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some
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Water bills drop - but rise is already planned
HOUSEHOLDERS in East Lancashire will see their water bills tumble. But bills will rise again in four years' time to help pay for a massive investment in environmental improvements. The average bill for domestic customers will fall by £17 in the year from
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Sudden exit for firm's bosses
TWO bosses have suddenly quit economic development firm Enterprise. The resignations of chief executive David Taylor and finance director Lawrence King come weeks after a bid led by Mr Taylor to buy the company failed. Enterprise, formerly Lancashire
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Cadets prove they have poppy power
YOUNGSTERS from sea, army and air training cadet forces in Lancashire raised £19,000 during the county's Lord Lieutenant's Cadet Poppy Appeal Competition. Prizes were awarded by Lord Shuttleworth to cadets who raised most money. The Blackburn Unit won
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Course aims to attract women and ethnic groups
EAST Lancashire colleges are to join forces with the emergency services in a bid to encourage more women or ethnic minority recruits. A course which aims to help develop skills required by the Army, police and fire brigade, as well as supporting students
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Learn to love your library
EDUCATION bosses at Blackburn College were hoping a love story would unfold between students and the library when they put the facility under the spotlight on Valentine's Day. The event was held as part of Love Your Library and Learn Centres Week at the
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Fergie changed his mind over Kidd offer
SIR Alex Ferguson has admitted that he did speak to his ex-assistant Brian Kidd about a possible return to Old Trafford. But the Manchester United manager then had a change of heart. And, in any case, it is very doubtful whether former Blackburn Rovers
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Down by the Riverside
A fan's-eye view from Ewood Park, with Phil Lloyd THE announcer at Edgeley Park told us repeatedly that Stockport is not a club that tolerates racist or abusive language. What he forgot to tell us is that neither is Stockport a club that tolerates exciting
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Cowan joins Cambridge
TOM Cowan has joined Cambridge United on a month's loan and could make his first appearance for the Second Division strugglers at Bury tonight. Burnley boss Stan Ternent had no hesitation in agreeing to Roy McFarland's request to take the left back for
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Smart way to pay for food
STUDENTS who are strapped for cash will soon be able to take advantage of a new Smartcard system to buy food and drinks at Blackburn College. The new system, which will be valid in any college restaurant as well as some vending machines, will be in place
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Crackdown cuts crime
A CRIME crusade which has seen known offenders barred from Blackburn town centre has resulted in a dramatic plunge in offences. Police and shopkeepers say since the start of the new strategy some types of crime have been almost halved in the main shopping
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Dunn: Why I need to quit Ewood
DAVID Dunn today revealed why he fears he will have to leave the club he has supported all his life. The England under-21 midfielder, who has had a transfer request rejected by Blackburn Rovers, believes he may well need to quit Ewood to help his career
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Perfect playground
PUPILS at a primary school will have more reason to look forward to playtime thanks to the efforts of big-hearted helpers. A team of volunteers from the Prince's Trust in Blackburn have created an adventure playground in the yard at St Thomas' Primary
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Drive to improve public services
THE government has launched a new drive to improve services in the North West. The Manchester-based regional office is to be beefed up and will work more closely with Whitehall departments. And to ensure that there is better co-ordination and delivery
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Events in East/Central Lancashire on Wednesday, February 23rd
Queen's Lancashire Regimental Association meet Somme Barracks, Moss Street, Blackburn, noon. Coffee Morning, Willow Close Community Centre, Clayton-le-Moors, 10am. In aid of the blind. Parkinson's Disease Society meet Temple Street Resource Centre, Burnley
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'Missing' cross riddle solved
THE mystery of Mitton's disappearing millennium cross was solved today when it was revealed that the monument had not been stolen after all. Parish councillor John Wilkinson, 90, funded the project to erect the centrepiece on the village green, which
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Firework fun boosts hospice fund
A GLITTERING event brought an extra sparkle to the East Lancashire Hospice Appeal. Ribble Valley appeal organisers George and Edna Clarkson received a cheque for £4,175 at the Post House hotel, Clitheroe, raised through a bonfire spectacular firework
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Sixties silver well polished
Solid Silver 60s Show, at King George's Hall, Blackburn I WAS struggling to see the attraction of this, the 15th anniversary of the Solid Silver 60s Show. The Swinging Blue Jeans had barely a fistful of hits to their credit and the Searchers' two lead
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U-turn by 'Two Jags'
IT'S a funny old world. After 50 years of Labour decimating our inner cities and towns by demolishing row upon row of terraced houses and replacing them with dysfunctional tower blocks and sink estates, which they are trying to rid themselves of at a
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Credit union in the black
A 20 PER CENT rise in membership made it a good year for Burnley Lane Credit Union. The voluntary savings and cut-price loans group, founded in 1990, also saw assets grow 17 per cent to £75,000 in the year to September, the annual meeting heard. In addition
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Tool firm robbed twice
THIEVES have raided CMA Tools, Westgate, Burnley, for the second time in less than a week. On Sunday evening intruders got in by removing a skylight window before stealing a cantilever took box and tools valued at £600. The premises at Belle Vue Mill,
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Blanket talks at town hall
PLANS to send blankets to Kashmir later in the year were discussed at a sub-committee meeting at Nelson Town Hall last night. A report, detailing the discussion, will be presented to the Kashmir Working Group and the Pendle Working Group will give a presentation
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Victims losing faith in system - claim
VICTIMS and witnesses are losing faith in the criminal justice system, says a local support group. The view is expressed by Burnley, Clitheroe and Pendle Victim Support which is calling for more volunteers to help meet the needs of local crime victims
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Attack broke nose of naked man in bed
A JILTED boyfriend was fuming in a jealous rage when he found a naked man in the bed of a woman he still thought was his girlfriend. Burnley magistrates heard how Warren Lyons, 27, smashed the man's nose after finding him at the home of his next-door-but-one
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Tough crime targets set
HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope has welcomed the announcement that local targets for reducing car crime, domestic burglary and robbery are to be set from April. In Lancashire targets have been set to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent and burglary by 34 per cent
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Why I need to quit Ewood - by Rovers midfielder
DAVID Dunn today revealed why he fears he will have to leave the club he has supported all his life. The England under-21 midfielder, who has had a transfer request rejected by Blackburn Rovers, believes he may well need to quit Ewood to help his career
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Thumb ripped off at work
AN engineering worker had half his left thumb ripped off and received serious chest injuries in a works accident. Peter Ashworth, 51, of Richmond Street, Accrington, also needed surgery to three fingers after the incident at Kirk Engineering Ltd, West
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Emma, 12, leads cinema campaign
A CAMPAIGNING schoolgirl has won a pledge from her local MP over pleas for a new cinema in the borough. Hyndburn Greg Pope said he would do all he could to make her wish come true and said he hoped the development could be a reality by the end of the
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Book review
Lifesize Kitten and Puppy Board Books, published by Dorling Kindersley, £3.99 each WHO can resist baby animals, especially at this time of year? The "Aahh" factor will delight young and old in the latest spring books for very young readers from publishers
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We're having sum fun!
JUST for fun, why not stimulate the family's maths muscles by having a go at the latest activities published in our series designed to support the bi-monthly themes of the Maths Year 2000 initiative? The theme for January and February is Maths on Time
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Keep on straight and narrow, thief told
A THIEF who stole baby clothing wanted it to clothe a friend's daughter, Burnley magistrates heard. Lee Dale, 29, was concerned for the child's welfare because her mother was a heroin addict and the youngster was unclothed, his solicitor David Lawson
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Fears for green belt
REEDLEY parish councillors are to express their concern to Pendle Council over a proposed housing development at Greenhead Manor. They fear there could be a breach of Green Belt policy by allowing the development, which has been recommended for acceptance
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A-road lighting has bright future
STREET lighting along the A646 from Burnley to Todmorden is being improved in a £400,000 scheme. The modernisation work is being carried out by Balfour Kilpatrick Ltd and is due for completion by the end of April. Highways Agency project manager Ziad
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Accident victim 'stable'
ACCIDENT victim Joseph Cichocki was today said to be in a "stable" condition in intensive care at the Royal Preston Hospital. Mr Cichocki, 73, of Lancaster Gate, Nelson, suffered serious head injuries in a collision with a car as he crossed Manchester
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Mum's the star of our show!
FOUR members of a jet-setting East Lancashire showbiz family took time out from their busy schedule to make their mother's dream come true. Husband and wife cabaret team Elaine and Terry Slater joined Elaine's sister Gloria Ford and brother Gary Kirkby
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Doctor could be struck off
A DOCTOR could be struck off after being called to answer four charges of professional misconduct relating to the treatment of a Darwen man and his wife. Dr Ahmed Zaman, whose address was given as The Health Centre, Union Street, Darwen, is accused of
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Child injured
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was injured in a collision with a private hire car in New Chapel Street, Mill Hill, at 3pm yesterday. He was treated at Blackburn Royal Infirmary for minor head and leg injuries. Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some
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Watching out for the birdies
ROSSENDALE folk took part in Rossendale Groundwork's birdbox-making day at the countryside centre. The annual practical workshop gave visitors the opportunity not only to make a standard nestbox from the kits provided, but also to receive information
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Youth freed over crane crash
A YOUTH questioned by police about an incident in which a 16-ton truck-mounted crane demolished a house in Bacup has been released without charge. Police are appealing for information which could help identify the people responsible for breaking into
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Pay deals hit new low
PAY deals for thousands of East Lancashire factory workers have hit their lowest level for at least 20 years, new research showed today. And while manufacturing workers' pay rises are being squeezed, pay deals for staff in service industries have kept
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Ex-Rovers player to stand trial
FORMER Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Northern Ireland soccer star Derek Dougan was today expected to stand trial charged with aggravated burglary. The 62-year-old, of Keepers Lane, Codsall, Staffordshire, is due to appear before Wolverhampton
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Brave Jenny's medal honour
BRAVE Bacup girl Jenny Hill is one of seven battling youngsters who have beaten the odds to be honoured at a ceremony. Bolton, Wigan and Lancashire winners of the prestigious National Child of Achievement Awards were presented with medals from local VIPs
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Assault charge
A FORMER bouncer at Blackburn's Utopia nightclub has been committed to Preston Crown Court for trial charged with assault and affray. Amjid Yasin, 29, of Cedar Street, Ashton Under Lyne, Manchester, was bailed by Blackburn magistrates. David Anthony Yates
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Janet backs stalkers register move
ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson has backed calls for stalkers to be put on a register after it was revealed it is the fastest growing crime in the country. The Government is considering keeping a record of stalkers similar to the one for sex offenders
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Theft victim, 93
POLICE are appealing for information about a theft in which the victim was a 93-year-old woman. The lady was walking along Richmond Road, Barnoldswick, aided by a stick at 10.30am on St Valentine's Day, Monday, February 14, when the thief reached into
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No red card for shamed Rovers fans
BOSSES at Ewood Park today said that four young fans who were ejected from the away terrace after Blackburn Rovers' winning goal at Stockport on Saturday will not be banned from home matches. A 14-year-old, two 13-year-olds and an 11-year-old were escorted
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Licence fee cut joy for older viewers
ELDERLY and blind people across East Lancashire have welcomed changes which mean they will have to pay less for TV licences. Despite a general price rise of £3, the over-75s will be entitled to a free licence from November 1 and there will be concessions
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MP thrilled by school's success
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice told fellow MPs he was thrilled that West Craven High School, Barnoldswick, had been awarded technology college status. The designation brings a government grant of £100,000 for capital expenditure and funding to help the school
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Labour hit back over town centre road plan
LABOUR councillors have hit back at opposition to plans for a traffic-free town centre in Blackburn. Traders on Darwen Street and the town's market traders have condemned the plans to divert through traffic away from Church Street and Darwen Street on
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Landslide terror as wall collapses
A LANDSLIDE of 100 tonnes of rock and mud engulfed sheds and smashed cars into houses in Rossendale. Residents said they heard a long rumble like thunder as the 20ft high stone retaining wall behind their homes gave way and part of the hillside crashed
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Drink-drive soldier gets ban and fine
AN ARMY driver faces the loss of his job and demotion after clocking up his second drink-drive conviction. Burnley magistrates heard how James Carlisle 29, was "upset" because his girlfriend had finished with him, got out of his car, left the handbrake
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Blow to hopes of Euro rail link with North West
A NEW report that appears to have hammered the final nail in the coffin of direct train services from the North West through the Channel Tunnel to Paris and Brussels has been condemned by East Lancashire MPs. Consultants ADL have told the government it
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Cummings and Goings
A fan's-eye view from Turf Moor, with Stephen Cummings IF I live to see in the next millennium I don't think I will witness anything quite as bizarre. The sight of a Burnley forward line consisting of Ian Wright and Ronnie Jepson will live long in the
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Baroness Barbara to speak at lunch
BARONESS Castle, former MP for Blackburn and Cabinet minister, will speak at a Women of the Century lunch in the Windsor Suite of King George's Hall, Blackburn, on Wednesday, March 8. The lunch is sponsored by businesses in Blackburn and Darwen and is
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'Delay town hall changes'
TORIES in Blackburn and Darwen have called for radical changes at the town hall, including the introduction of a cabinet of councillors, to be delayed. The Conservative group will officially make its plea at a forthcoming meeting of Blackburn with Darwen
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Clearly the Wright move
I OFTEN write criticising Neil Bramwell, so it gives me pleasure to be able to say I agree with virtually everything he said in his most recent column (LET, February 17). Burnley has shown great panache in signing Ian Wright at very little risk or cost
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Back to the future
STAFF at a Sabden school marked the end of 123 years of history with an exhibition at their new buildings. St Mary's Primary School has moved from its old site in terrace houses on Pendle Street East to new buildings in Watt Street. Former pupils, local
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Spin doctors hide facts
Rovers fans have their shout WHEN is 'temporary' permanent? Answer: When John Williams is doing the spin doctoring. We were told Rovers needed stability, which is why they gave Tony Parkes the managership. A permanent manager would have off-loaded the
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Susan raises money for care centre
NEW computers will help adults with learning difficulties thanks to brewer Whitbread and its charity volunteers. Susan Wilton, a customer services clerk at the company's Samlesbury brewery, is also a volunteer fund-raiser for the nearby CARE Stanley Grange
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Mayor signs green pledge
A PLEDGE to preserve wildlife was due to be signed by Ribble Valley Mayor Coun Brian Collis today. He was confirming Ribble Valley Council's commitment to wildlife conservation by signing the Lancashire Biodiversity Declaration on the edge of the River
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Dance topic puts county centre stage
A GROUP of young dancers from an East Lancashire high school have beaten off competition from across the UK with a topical routine called County-cide. The team of nine pupils, aged between 12 and 15 years, from the Ribble Valley's Bowland High put the
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FIVE YEARS AGO: New babies tagged
A NEW tagging system to foil baby-snatchers was keeping mums and staff on their toes. The system in the new maternity unit at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, activated an electronic alarm when a baby was moved away from the ward area. The hospital's
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TEN YEARS AGO: Ground share talks
COLNE Dynamoes soccer chief Graham White's ground share talks with Burnley Football Club were abandoned, firing speculation that he could turn to the Clarets' arch rivals Blackburn Rovers for a two-year agreement. White was believed to have offered in
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Does Labour prefer fudge to integrity?
ONCE again, the government seems to have lost its nerve over fox hunting, which the Prime Minister said last summer it would ban. For having already driven the issue into the thicket of an inquiry set up under Lord Burns, it is now being asked to consider
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BBC can keep on providing quality standard
MUCH as it grates to see any public service granted above-inflation increases in its charges year after year, the raising of the TV licence fee on this scale to fund the BBC can hardly be described as excessive. For even at the new level of £104 from
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In the swim with Sharron
NOW in their sixth year, my 'Swim for Life Channel Challenges' continue to become more popular as swimmers not only improve their health and fitness, but raise funds for our main beneficiary in 2000 - the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Don't worry - you
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Reward offer after theft at WH Smith
A REWARD is on offer for information about a thief who stole property valued at almost £1,000 from WH Smith in Market Square, Burnley. At 12.50pm on St Valentine's Day, Monday, February 14, he stole postage stamps, worth £300, WH Smith theatre vouchers
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HORSERACING: Pride comes after a foal
Harry's Stable Whispers IT'S a boy! I've just had the telephone call that I have been waiting for over two weeks. The stud informed me at 9.45pm yesterday that Pride of Whalley had the foal which is black, so it will be a grey, and both mother and foal
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High demand for penfriends
INTERNATIONAL Pen Friends currently has so many inquiries from overseas English language students it is becoming hard to meet the demand. Most have joined IPF through the Schools/Youth Group Service which provides a worldwide penfriend service available
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HORSERACING: How we beat the bookies
Manorbier's neck victory in a lowly selling race on the all-weather at Wolverhampton last Thursday probably won more money for punters in the Darwen and Blackburn area than any horse since Red Rum. By 4.10 everybody was on it. And those who weren't are
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English, but not proud
THERE is a term which can be applied to comments such as those of Mr S Jones about the Welsh (Letters, February 10) - cultural bigotry. Nationalism is such a misused word; it is far more to do with heritage and history. Look at history - England has been
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Cash will clear benefits backlog
BURNLEY'S crisis-hit housing benefits service is to get a cash injection of almost £180,000 to clear a backlog of claims. The bulk of the money will go on employing extra staff to deal with benefits applications. But the cost to council- taxpayers of
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Who decides on age ceiling?
WHILE our own government continues to defer the introduction of legislation relating to age discrimination in employment and elsewhere, the European Parliament's own priority objective to implement Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty has recently been
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Pedal power pushes up hospice total
CYCLISTS at Samuel Cooke and Co Ltd, oil distributors of Padiham, raised £1,365 for Pendleside Hospice, Reedley. Four staff completed a sponsored coast to coast ride of 167 miles from Whitehaven to Sunderland to raise more than £900 with the remainder
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Dismayed by 'drivel'
WHAT a pity that the editor deemed it necessary to qualify the publication of J Fielding's excellent comments (Letters, February 9) with an apologetic footnote. It is apparent that today's journalists are clueless as to the widely-held views of the people
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Soccer family's 'Jolly' good show
TELEVISION cameras were on hand to record a "Jolly" good fight back by the Royal Butterfly in the Burnley and District Sunday League. In fact it was a Jolly, Jolly, Jolly, Jolly, Jolly, Jolly, fine effort by the second division team whose matches are
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Estate arsonist strikes again
FIREFIGHTERS today warned householders to be on the alert after an arsonist set three more houses on fire last night on the Barclay Hills estate in Burnley. Petrol, or other flammable liquid, was poured through the letter boxes of two houses in Padgate
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Balancing act slows rush-hour traffic
A BUSY East Lancashire link road was reduced to one lane on a blind bend today when a van left the road and landed on a wall. The Surridge Dawson vehicle hit the perimeter wall of Brookside Nurseries in Roundhill Road, Haslingden, at about 8am. The road
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MP Pope backs £1bn charity plan
HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope is backing new initiatives announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown that could result in a £1billion cash boost for charities and voluntary organisations across Britain. The plans are aimed at encouraging a 'giving age' and Mr Pope hopes
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Clarets defencer joins Cambridge
TOM Cowan has joined Cambridge United on a month's loan and could make his first appearance for the Second Division strugglers at Bury tonight. Burnley boss Stan Ternent had no hesitation in agreeing to Roy McFarland's request to take the left back for
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Cyclist saves canal fisherman's life
A FATHER out cycling with his young son was today hailed a hero for saving the life of a fisherman who fell into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal after apparently suffering a seizure. Brian Taylor, 35, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, was cycling along the
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Students have designs on degrees in graphics
COLLEGE students on a fact finding mission had a guided tour of our head office in Blackburn, arranged through our Newspapers in Education project. The group of first year students studying on a degree level course in Graphic Design at Blackburn College
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Bridge grant
A GRANT of £3,000 has been has been offered towards lighting under the M65 bridge at Woodend, Reedley. Reedley Hallows parish councillors learned of the offer from the Community Safety Partnership following complaints about unruly groups of youth gathering
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Missing girls safe and well
TWO girls missing from home have been found. Extensive police inquiries had failed to reveal the whereabouts of Stephanie Turton, 15, of the Warings, Nelson, who had been missing since February 14, or of Sarah Ann Blackett, 14, who went missing from her
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How to meet the ancestors
ADVICE on how best to trace ancestors is being given out by members of the Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society at Sunnyhurst Wood Visitor Centre as part of an exhibition. The display features hints on how people can find out more about their
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Fair trial hope for heroin charge cop
THE Black Police Association today spoke of its hopes that a Lancashire policeman arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle £1million worth of heroin into Britain will get a fair trial. PC Shabir Rehman Abdul Mubarak, who served in Blackburn as a special
