Archive
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What chance did she have?
ONE inquiry into the tragic drowning death of four-month-old Emma Jade Dyson - the third involving a baby under social services care in four years - has already revealed a catalogue of errors by care workers. It showed that social services failed to support
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BABY EMMA: Social worker was not replaced
ONE of the findings of the report into the handling of Rabina Hashim's case by care workers revealed that the family did not have a replacement social worker once the one allocated moved away. The failure -- said to be partly due to staff shortages --
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Rovers on the wards
ROVERS stars spread festive cheer to sick youngsters when they visited the children's wards at Blackburn Royal Infirmary and Queens Park Hospital. Bags of goodies, including Rovers calendars, sweets, pens and keyrings were given out. And stars signed
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BABY EMMA: 'Lessons need to be learned'
SOCIAL Services bosses today revealed what they had done to improve the service since their own report into the tragedy was published in March. A six-person panel of social services bosses, health professionals and police was strongly critical of failings
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Thanks for your Chico support
I WISH to thank everyone who supported the raffle for 'Chico' the knitted clown and Guy Christopher and his ladies who worked so hard selling tickets over the last two months. It is good to know many people cared enough to purchase a ticket on behalf
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Thanks for Christmas gifts
BLACKBURN Shopping Centre management would like to thank all our customers and churches who have very kindly contributed toys to our 2001 toy appeal. Their generosity has once again made this appeal a huge success and their kindness will, we are sure,
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Dream garden will take shape
A DREAM garden designed by a local girl for the Queen's Golden Jubilee is set to become a reality. The Mediterranean-style garden designed by former Lowton High pupil Jenny McCarthy will be unveiled next summer. Jenny, a 23-year-old landscape architecture
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Memories book is a real gem
THANK you very much for the publicity on the book "1963 Blackburn -- a proud town," and the new "part two" edition -- the final section to complete the collection of photographs of the town 38 years ago before redevelopment. The book, which is available
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Santa will arrive with a bang...
SANTA officially arrives in Leigh tonight and will celebrate with a fantastic firework display for all the family! The town centre fun starts at 6.30pm when Santa will be parading down Bradshawgate in a decorated Victorian horse drawn carriage, assisted
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Student grants are available
COULD I bring to the attention of readers who are university students (or their parents) the existence of the Spring Hill Car Club Scholarship Fund? This is a registered charity set up by the members of the Spring Hill Car Club for the purpose of giving
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Schools get £1m extra funding
LEIGH schools will receive £1 million extra funding to continue the excellent work of Leigh Education Action Zone. London education bosses are so pleased with the work of Leigh EAZ they have promised to continue working with local schools indefinitely
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What happened in Robert's missing hour?
Special report by BRIAN GOMM: CHRISTMAS is off the calendar for a once-happy family still mourning the tragic death of a 22-year-old Atherton man. "We won't be celebrating Christmas," said Robert Huyton's grieving mum who has launched a new appeal for
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Tales from the touchline with Michael Black
CHRISTMAS -- traditionally a time where giving is more important that receiving. So, with that in mind, I thought I'd take this opportunity to enter into the festive spirit and dish out some early gifts: Fellow columnist Trevor Hanson: The Fixtures Secretary
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BLACKBURN YOUTH LEAGE UNDER 17S
A SUPERB flowing move resulting with Ben Craig's second goal of the game sealed a fine win for Rossendale. Paul Andrew found Chris Woods on the left and he raced clear before checking inside and his chip over the last defender was met by a diving header
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All steamed up for Christmas
EAST Lancashire Railways 'Santa Specials' as popular as ever this Christmas. The service is seen here steaming up and getting a wave from children waiting at Ramsbottom Station. More Santa Specials will being steaming this weekend from Bury and Ramsbottom
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Morley sweats it out
LEIGH Centurions still don't know if international back rower Chris Morley will face disciplinary action after being put on report during last Sunday's landslide win over Hunslet. Morley was involved in a scuffle with Hawks' second rower Jonlee Lockwood
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Rovers on the wards
ROVERS stars spread festive cheer to sick youngsters when they visited the children's wards at Blackburn Royal Infirmary and Queens Park Hospital. Bags of goodies, including Rovers calendars, sweets, pens and keyrings were given out. And stars signed
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Keith is Rovers' answer to Giggs
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness believes Keith Gillespie can become Ewood's answer to Ryan Giggs after saving himself from football's scrap heap. This time last year the Northern Ireland international was heading for oblivion after being farmed out to Second
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College head hails big pass rate rise
A DRAMATIC improvement in across-the-board course passes was reported by Burnley College principal John Smith at the annual awards ceremony. Mr Smith told guests at the Mechanics, Burnley, that the pass rate on all courses, full-time and part-time, was
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Ridding our streets of the yobs
BURNLEY has received a £7million Euro funding boost in the bid to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The money will be matched from other government and public sources to make a £14 million programme over the next five years. The project known as
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College's positive year
AT THIS year's Nelson and Colne College awards evening, principal Kath Belton talked of a positive year in which A-Level results exceeded the national average and the college's reserve funds for future investment were increased by £194,000. The college
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All change at the bus station
BURNLEY bus station was demolished recently and a new one is in the process of being built on the same site. In about 1820, this site was a field used by animals belonging to a farmer called James Pickup. Shortly after Pickup's death in 1822, the first
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Council safety checks in burial grounds
INSPECTIONS of six of Pendle's cemeteries will begin on January 7 to ensure there are no unstable gravestones which could be potential hazards. Pendle Council carry out yearly checks of the monuments and gravestones to ensure no-one is injured because
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Ten years ago
HUNDREDS of pupils got an extra day off when Ribblesdale County School, Clitheroe, was struck by lightning, setting the school bell off - and as electricians could not stop the noise staff decided to send children home.
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Five years ago
AN exclusive designer-wear shop in the Ribble Valley was targeted for the third time in 12 months. This time burglars at Checkmate got away with £10,000 worth of clothing including Armani jeans and exclusive evening wear.
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Schools join Co-op in sport venture
CHILDREN from Great Harwood have developed improved sporting skills, thanks to a schools scheme in conjunction with Co-op Sports. Sportsdrive was a taster course for Co-op Sports for Schools which gave youngsters the opportunity to try out penalty shoot-outs
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Former RAF man recruited teens for video
A FORMER RAF serviceman recruited two 15-year-old girls on the internet to make a pornographic video -- and was caught after police raided his home. John Doswell, 54, of James Street, Great Harwood, got e-mails from the girls and filmed them in a Blackpool
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Schools get top marks
TABLE-topping schools have excelled in the primary league. The results of this summer's Key Stage 2 National Curriculum assessments showed that high educational standards achieved by 11-year-olds have been maintained, with many schools performing above
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The future of transport?
YOU may have seen recent news articles about the future of transport -- the so-called Segway. It looks like a mix between a pogo stick and a micro-scooter and could be the next big thing, or another Sinclair C5. You can take a look for yourself at the
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Yule like what you see on Nuremberg webcam
THE lure of having an early peep at Christmas can go beyond the presents under the tree. How about a look at what's going on in other areas around the globe? Nuremberg, dubbed the Christmas City, has a fantastic site at www.christkindles markt.de. Gold
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Keep track of your money
THE next time you pull a fiver from your pocket or your purse, spare a thought for its history. For all you know, it might have been used by someone famous a few days before or be fresh off the printing press. Well guess no more. One young student has
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Double hit Papa upset
DIMITRI Papadopoulos bagged a brace at Turf Moor last night for the Clarets reserves but manager Ronnie Jepson admitted: "He was upset he did not get another hat-trick." The Greece Under-21 striker had scored three against Wolves last week and having
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Keith is Rovers' answer to Giggs
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness believes Keith Gillespie can become Ewood's answer to Ryan Giggs after saving himself from football's scrap heap. This time last year the Northern Ireland international was heading for oblivion after being farmed out to Second
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Clarets fight 'fast-track' League
CLARETS chairman Barry Kilby is determined to fight plans to speed up the creation of a "Phoenix League". He believes certain clubs are using the fear factor to force others to act in haste by pushing for a mass notice to quit the Football League by first
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Business leaders pay tribute to Roger
BUSINESS leaders from across East Lancashire met to recognise and celebrate the work of former Business Link chairman Roger Collinge. Mr Collinge served as chairman of the Business Link and East Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council, and as a director
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Brown urged to meet targets on public spending
SMALL firms reacted positively to many of the measures announced in the Chancellor's recent Pre-Budget Report, particularly on lowering Capital Gains Tax, payroll support and tax credits for training, but urged that the Government remain fully on course
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Accidents will happen, but is anyone to blame?
WINTER is upon us... the season of skidding and tripping, sliding and falling, bumps and bruises, strains and sprains - but why add insult to injury? If you have suffered an injury and it's not your fault, then help is at hand. More and more advertising
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Gaining strength through diversity
THE East Lancashire-based Asian Business Federation, launched early this year, already has around 250 members. Working with Business Link, the federation is making major impact within the local Asian community. "In the past Asian business people have
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Man arrested after stolen van chaos
A STOLEN van hit five other vehicles as it was driven away. Two men stole the Transit van from outside a house in Belthorn Road in the early hours of Wednesday. They smashed the window at 2.20am, disturbing the owner. One of the men ran off and the other
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Unwanted spectacles can go far
PEOPLE can donate their unwanted glasses to the Help the Aged shop in School Street, Darwen. The charity is running an appeal called World in Sight in which glasses which are useless to their owners can benefit the lives of people in developing countries
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Pool's future ensured at last minute
A LAST-MINUTE rescue package has saved the day for Whitworth Pool and hopefully secured the facility's future for the next three years. At Rossendale Council's full council meeting, leisure chairman Coun Neil Smith told councillors: "The town council
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'Fifth' Beatle back on TV
LEIGH'S 'fifth' Beatle is appearing in the television Christmas special edition of the talent show Stars In Their Eyes. Jeff Greenhalgh -- who last year was a favourite finalist with his lookalike, soundalike impersonation of Paul McCartney -- will be
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Food News with Pauline Hawkins
FESTIVE fare is on the menu this week courtesy of celebrity chef NIGEL SMITH, of the Fielden's Arms, Mellor Brook. Nigel's three recipes - a soup, a main course and a sauce - should make your Christmas lunch the most delicious ever. Tomato and red pepper
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Hanged mum found by her young sons
A YOUNG mum whose life was in turmoil hanged herself while her three sons aged 12, seven and three, were downstairs at their home. An inquest heard that the boys discovered their mum, Carole Smith, suspended from a rope fixed in the attic space. There
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Crackdown on street pickpockets
EXTRA police will be patrolling the streets of Blackburn and Burnley town centres this Christmas in a bid to crack down on pickpockets who prey on shoppers. During the festive period there is an annual rise in the number of so-called 'dippers' visiting
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Figures are up but the future is looking brighter
THE area defined by police as the town centre stretches Preston New Road in the north to Grimshaw Retail Park in the south and from Montague Street in the west across to the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Eanam in the east. Overall crime in this area fell from
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Don't let pirates wreck your Yule
TRADING Standards bosses are warning Christmas shoppers to be on the lookout for fake goods in the run up to the festive season. Officials fear that hundreds could be duped into buying pirated goods in the hope of getting a bargain, only to find themselves
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Is this the Last Post for the post?
THE Post Office (Consignia) has hatched a plan to scrap door-to-door deliveries. The service is apparently losing £1.5 million a day. A task force, branded Operation Armageddon, has been set up to find cheaper ways of delivering our mail. Bosses want
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Now that's what I call an excuse!
nTHE best excuse I've seen for being late for work recently was "aliens ate my dog". I've used some in my time, including lost keys, broken down lorries across the drive, doctor's and dental appointments, but being a boss for 20 odd years I didn't need
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End this evil trade
AT a time when Leigh families are feeding garden birds to help them through the winter, millions of song birds are being slaughtered illegally on the favourite holiday isle of Cyprus - to supply a traditional, but illegal, delicacy. Bird trappers are
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Youth, 16, on manslaughter charge
A 16-year-old youth has been charged with manslaughter following an attack on a 68-year-old man in Radcliffe in April. John Eric Conwell, known as Eric, was walking home to his Normandy Crescent home with a friend along Water Street, Radcliffe, on Saturday
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Top Guns back on top!
Leigh Centurions68, Hunslet Hawks 12 THE Centurions are back on familiar territory - sitting pretty at the top of the Northern Ford Premiership. Normal service was resumed after opening the season with a couple of indifferent efforts that didn't satisfy
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Cannabis protest MEP: Why I went to court
THE local Euro MP who appeared in court on drug charges after protesting against Britain's laws on cannabis said he had elected trial by jury so that he could argue against the disproportionate drug laws. Liberal democrat Chris Davies was arrested on
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EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Friday, December 21
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Origami Christmas trimmings -- drop in workshop for everyone, Blackburn Museum, 11am-4pm. Celebrating Eid, New Era Complex, Paradise Street, Accrington, 7.30pm. Jupiter
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Frankie retires after 18 years
STAFF at Asda's Blackburn store said farewell to their personnel manager on Saturday as she looked forward to an early retirement after a career with the company which spanned 18 years.. Mrs Frankie Heaton had previously worked at Asda's Preston stores
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Carol concert goes off with a bang
THE skies above Blackburn town centre were last night illuminated with tracers and shooting stars as the annual Christmas firework display took place in the cathedral grounds. Thousands of late night shoppers and visitors crowded into Darwen Street, which
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Further quiz of Rovers pair 'unlikely'
POLICE today revealed they were unlikely to question two members of Blackburn Rovers' staff again about an alleged sex offence. But the man leading the inquiry said a full investigation into the matter was continuing. The men, who have not been named,
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At least I could see funny side
I HAVE been waiting for a cataract operation for heaven knows how long and because of my poor eyesight I asked a shopkeeper to select me some nice Christmas cards. But he gave me birthday cards, so I've sent them to people who meant to have a Christmas
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BNP should shut down
THE Clarke report makes it clear that the far right British National Party has been nothing but bad news for Burnley; targeting minority groups, spreading racism, and encouraging hostility towards Asian people. Clarke's view of the BNP is shared by the
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Just broken promises for Christmas
HATS off to Councillor Ashley Whalley and his planning cronies. As he sagely predicted, the various roadworks that have blighted every approach into Blackburn town centre for the past few months have all been completed in good time for Christmas and the
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Whistle Blower with Neil Yates
ANOTHER year bites the dust and nowt changes. Hideously injured players spring to their feet moments later courtesy of a miracle cure. Appalling fouls are committed by players but the managers "deed not see it." Patently correct decisions are questioned
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BURNLEY AND DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
REFEREE David Howard sensationally walked off the pitch in this heated top-of-the-table clash after brandishing five yellow and two red cards. The official abandoned the ill-tempered match 15 minutes into the second half after Rosegrove Rail had been
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CALDERDALE WAY RELAY
CLAYTON Harriers won the battle of the local clubs in the Calderdale Way Relay when the finished in third place just ahead of the Rossendale 'A' team. Clayton completed the energy sapping event in a combined time of 5 hours 57.07 seconds -- 18 minutes
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Figures are up but the future is looking brighter
THE area defined by police as the town centre stretches Preston New Road in the north to Grimshaw Retail Park in the south and from Montague Street in the west across to the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Eanam in the east. Overall crime in this area fell from
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What chance did baby emma have?
A CATALOGUE of errors and misjudgements which led to the death of a Burnley baby who was thrown into the canal by her mentally ill mother was revealed by health bosses today. The independent report into the death of four-month-old Emma Jade Dyson prompted
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Cash call in wake of race riots
BURNLEY MP Peter Pike has called on the Government to acknowledge that Burnley needs more funding to tackle problems highlighted in the Task Force report. In the House of Commons he asked Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford: "Does my Right Hon Friend
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'Give up' message to crooks
GIVE yourself up before we come and get you is the festive-time message going out to local criminals in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale areas. Police are urging offenders who have failed to appear in court or who have a warrant out for their arrest
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Anxious wait for Claire's parents
THE parents of a young Nelson woman who suffered a broken neck and serious head injuries in a road accident at the weekend are waiting in hope after their daughter underwent an operation at Royal Preston Hospital. Claire Clark, 21, of Pinfold Place, Nelson
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Awards for Barnardo helpers
NINE regular volunteers at the Barnardo's shop in Church Street, Colne, have been awarded service badges. They were presented by former shop manager Gillian Holden at an event at the Crown Hotel, Colne, before everyone tucked into a Christmas dinner and
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College's positive year
AT THIS year's Nelson and Colne College awards evening, principal Kath Belton talked of a positive year in which A-Level results exceeded the national average and the college's reserve funds for future investment were increased by £194,000. The college
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New look nursery praised by MP
HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope has officially opened a refurbished section of Fairfield Street Nursery School in Accrington. The changes will enable the nursery to provide education in a more flexible way. Mr Pope said: "I have always been very strongly of the
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See in the New Year in Manchester - and come home by bus
REVELLERS from the Leigh area can join Manchester city centre celebrations on New Year's Eve and for the first time rely on a late bus home. First Manchester's latest late night services, introduced in November in partnership with GMPTA, have proved very
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Twice attacked man ends night out in a cell
THINGS went from bad to worse for a 40-year-old Accrington man who set out for a quiet night out in Oswaldtwistle. Blackburn magistrates heard that Paul James Welsh was punched in the eye during an unprovoked attack. He took a taxi to hospital and while
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Christmas crackdown on crime
TRADERS and police will be getting tough on Christmas criminals. Leigh Town Centre Management Initiative has a strong, clear message to shoplifters and thieves -- Stay away, you are not welcome in Leigh town centre! They aim to ensure out-of-town professional
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Assault after eight pints
DRINKING eight pints of Stella at his local cost Darryl Haslam his job and his good name. Blackburn magistrates heard that Haslam had been drinking at the Bridge Inn in Clitheroe. But as the landlord and a barmaid tried to get him out of the pub at closing
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Jobs lost after £5.6m takeover
A COMPANY has confirmed up to 50 jobs will be lost following its £5.6 million takeover by engineering giant Alfred McAlpine. Work at Ryan Utility Services, Inglewhite Road, Longridge, will cease tomorrow with many of its office jobs to be transferred
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Papa is the star of the show - again
CLARETS reserves go into the Christmas break on the back of a hard fought 2-2 draw against Lancashire rivals Preston North End at Turf Moor. In front of comfortably the biggest crowd of the season, Dimitri Papadopoulos, pictured, struck twice to make
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Clarets fight 'fast-track' League
CLARETS chairman Barry Kilby is determined to fight plans to speed up the creation of a "Phoenix League". He believes certain clubs are using the fear factor to force others to act in haste by pushing for a mass notice to quit the Football League by first
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Asian Image: Indoor six-a-side cricket league
WHALLEY Range halted Haidria's recent good run of form to go top of the Asian Image indoor six-a-side cricket league at the halfway stage. The league programme now takes a month long break with Whalley leading nearest rivals Accrol Harangham by three
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£millions going down the drain
BUSINESSES in East Lancashire could be throwing millions of pounds down the drain -- literally. However, Groundwork Blackburn -- part of a public-private partnership designed to help improve industrial Britain's environment -- says it has come up with
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Freshen up with these winter walks
A CHANCE to blow the winter cobwebs away comes with a series of new walks for 2002 planned around the Darwen area. A Winter Wander of three miles through Sunnyhurst Wood and beyond takes place on February 5. People should meet at Sunnyhurst at 1pm for
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Four in court on violence charges
FOUR teenagers have appeared in court charged in connection with two incidents in Darwen which left one man with a broken vertebrae in his neck and another unconscious on the floor. The victims had both gone to the assistance of other people allegedly
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People power stops 'public' garden sale
PEOPLE power stopped the controversial sale of part of a memorial ground paid for by workers from a factory more than 80 years' ago. Councillors at Rossendale Council's corporate policy committee had recommended part of Trickett's Memorial Ground be sold
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All steamed up for Christmas
EAST Lancashire Railways 'Santa Specials' as popular as ever this Christmas. The service is seen here steaming up and getting a wave from children waiting at Ramsbottom Station. More Santa Specials will being steaming this weekend from Bury and Ramsbottom
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Cars linked to robbery
A CAR stolen from a Mosley Common driveway was later used in an armed robbery at a Burnley supermarket. Police believe the supermarket snatch could have been carried out by a gang from this area. The green Honda Accord Aerodeck, registration number P841
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Bosses' u-turn to ease plight of the axed
BOSSES at electronics giant Philips have stepped in to ease the blow for redundant workers in the run up to Christmas. Employees axed at the Blackburn factory accused the firm of acting like Scrooge after being asked to repay loans to the company shop
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Schools set for massive facelift
SCHOOL buildings across East Lancashire are set for a major facelift after the Government handed education bosses a multi-million pound early Christmas present. Ministers announced a capital investment package worth more than £75million to the county's
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Head raps Education Secretary
A SIXTH-FORM college principal has slammed Education Secretary Estelle Morris for adding confusion and stress to his teachers' timetable. Michael Finley, head of St Mary's College in Blackburn, said teachers had been overcome by new initiative fatigue
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'Nights on the town are much safer now'
COUNCILLOR Maureen Bateson knows Blackburn town centre can be a dangerous place. But she also believes that, at night, it is a much safer place to be than in the past. Many new initiatives have been adopted by the council in the past few years, often
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BABY EMMA: How the tragedy unfolded
THE death of four-month-old Emma Jade Dyson shocked the community. MARCH 2000: Baby Emma Jade Dyson found dead in the Leeds and Liverpool canal hours after her mother Rabina Hashim reported she had been snatched from outside public toilets in Burnley
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Enforce is hitting crime head on
LANCASHIRE Police's motto is one of aiming to make people "feel safe, involved and reassured." And, writes Crime reporter NICK EVANS, in the light of the recent launch of Operation Enforce -- the latest bid to crack down on town centre crime -- the Lancashire
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Nelson miss out on pens
NELSON's first-round Marsden Trophy tie against Atherton LR finally took place at Victoria Park last night and produced a cracker of a finish. Atherton started the stronger and took the lead on the half hour when Anthony Smith drove in a free kick through
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Steve grabs silver
ROSSENDALE Harrier Steve Duxbury and team mate Thornton Taylor ended their season-long rivalry at the final Red Rose Cross Country League meeting at Burnley. The pair had battled their way through the four race series for the silver and bronze medals
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Good manners can prove so costly
THE win-at-all-costs mentality is not a pretty one but it is one that England's cricketers could do with taking on board. Yet again we find ourselves struggling to set a formidable score in the first innings of a Test match and two incidents on the first
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Barbara's market plea in a letter from America
FORMER Leyther Barbara Johnson is searching for a 50 years old Leigh market picture. Writing to me from her home in the States, Barbara says as a 16-years-old she used to work at Collins and Darwell, the Leigh printers. She was on the picture taken by
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Cannabis protest MEP: Why I went to court
THE local Euro MP who appeared in court on drug charges after protesting against Britain's laws on cannabis said he had elected trial by jury so that he could argue against the disproportionate drug laws. Liberal democrat Chris Davies was arrested on
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Rover and out for RMI
Leigh RMI 1 Doncaster Rovers 4 STEVE Waywell's Christmas lunch will be an anxious affair this year as a special performance from midfield maestro Jamie Paterson ensured that the Doncaster jinx continued for RMI. Paterson's first major contribution came
