Archive
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Mystery accident girl 'stable'
A PAPER delivery girl injured in a mystery accident before Christmas is still in hospital, but is stable and improving. Roberta Almond, 13, was admitted to the intensive care unit of Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury since she was found
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Theft from church by phony student
A THIEF posed as a church architecture student before stealing cash and a collection plate from a Blackburn church. The theft took place at St Luke's with St Philip's Church, Lansdowne Street, half an hour before the 9am Sunday service, when a man walked
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No complaints, so no snow?
REGARDING the criticism of road gritting in Blackburn and Darwen, Hyndburn did not appear to have anyone complain. I presume they either didn't get any snow or their gritters were more efficient. I know some 40 years ago Oswaldtwistle gritted all roads
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Grit boxes were being misused
REGARDING the gritting of roads and footpaths, I'd like to know to what use should the contents of the yellow bins be put. I ask because I know of at least three which were emptied, but not one shovelful was spread on the road or footpath in the area
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Tune into long range forecast
THE roads in Blackburn have been atrocious recently and, unfortunately, the council have not done a lot to rectify this. The gritting was done too late when the bad weather first set in. Whalley Old Road was virtually impassable on Saturday December 29
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Gritters there for bin men, not the public
REGARDING your article 'Council slated as big freeze affects surgery' (LET, January 7), once again Councillor Ashley Whalley, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration, makes lame excuses for anything that goes wrong under his
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Will council foot accidents bill?
HAVING read the tidings of great joy from Judith Moss about the gritting of the roads in Blackburn (Letters, January 7), I wonder why, if side roads were passable, as she says, the binmen failed to turn up on Wednesday? No doubt they saw the sheet ice
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Standards low, council tax high
WHEN I read some of Councillor Ashley Whalley's comments about the gritting fiasco in Blackburn and Darwen, I had difficulty in taking him seriously. Particularly amusing was his inference that although you might have risked life and limb walking in the
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Appeal for return of video tapes
A HEARTBROKEN mum is hoping a thief will return her treasured Christmas memories. Mrs Cara Shaw (29) of Talbot Grove, Bury, wants to prick the conscience of the burglar who struck recently at her home. "They took a digital camera, a video camera, a normal
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Board's first meeting
RAMSBOTTOM and Tottington Area Board will hold its first meeting of the year on Thursday, (Jan 17). High on the agenda for the evening will be an update on nuisance youths, particularly in Holcombe Brook precinct. There have been a number of complaints
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Grant would put council on the e-map
TOWN Hall bosses are hoping for £200,000 to bring all residents up to speed with their plans. They are confident of being able to provide 100 per cent of all possible e-government services by 2005. The Government has approved Bury's Implementing Electronic
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Dental patient had to walk 14 miles
EAST Lancashire's dental crisis was being raised in Parliament today by a worried MP who revealed a man was forced to walk a round trip of 14 miles just to receive treatment. Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said she was shocked when she received
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Church gets new look
HOLCOMBE Brook Methodist Church has started the new year with a new look. A massive refurbishment programme costing more than £200,000 has transformed it into a "modern-day" place of worship. The work at the church in Bolton Road West has been funded
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Interest in Grabbi hots up
FALLEN Italian giants Napoli could face competition from a number of rival clubs in their bid to land Ewood exile Ciccio Grabbi. Rovers Chief Executive John Williams today revealed several clubs are interested in signing the 26-year-old before the Italian
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LuaLua sinks reserves again
NEWCASTLE United Reserves completed the double over Rovers last night at Kingston Park. It was a poor performance from Rovers who lacked an attacking edge in front of watching first team boss Graeme Souness. Several scouts were also in the crowd checking
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Some might say young Gallacher done well
THE name 'Gallagher' will always be synonymous with Manchester after the chart-topping exploits of super group Oasis. However, forget Liam and Noel, it was Blackburn's very own Paul Gallagher who was the talk of the City on Saturday as Rovers pulled off
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Ups and downs of market day
THE glimpse Looking Back gave a couple of weeks ago of Blackburn's old Market Square empty of the stalls that crowded it on bustling market days may have given the impression that it was a virtually deserted at other times. But as these views of the long-gone
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No Little not fun
"YOU'LL be lucky to get three paragraphs out of that" smiled one punter as he passed me on the way out at Selhurst Park. Three paragraphs? Clearly, the gentleman in question had over-estimated what little writing skills I possess. Make no mistake, folks
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High hopes now Cole is here
"WHEN he gets the ball he's bound to score - Andy Andy Cole!" Despite watching him in a red shirt for the last seven years, Rovers fans will have had little difficulty in mentally re-arranging a few words of the above ditty following the performances
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Residents told to lock doors at night
POLICE have issued a warning to Accrington residents to check their doors are locked at night after two burglaries on the same night. One was at mid-terraced house in Lodge Street, where burglars entered through the front door and stole a black leather
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Disabled must wait for parking bays
A DISABLED charity store has won its battle for parking spaces -- but has been told they will not be legally enforced for another six months. Committee members of ShopMobility who have campaigned for spaces outside the store in Whalley Road, Accrington
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MP vows to fight for ME victims
RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has pledged to fight for extra support for ME sufferers living in his constituency. Mr Evans has written to the Health Secretary Alan Milburn to see if sufferers can get more help, after a report by Chief Medical Officer Liam
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Teenager in bottle attack
A TEENAGE boy carried out a bottle attack in Clitheroe town centre after having a lot to drink, Preston Crown Court heard. The 16-year-old was ordered to do a hundred hours community work by a judge who told him "Having too much to drink does not entitle
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Youth have a point to prove to Rovers
CLARETS youth team boss Terry Pashley will be looking for an improved performance from his side when they face Tranmere at Gawthorpe on Saturday. The youngsters will go into the clash knowing they need to prove a point after a 5-0 Youth Cup thrashing
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Soul's at the heart of Keirby joy night
THE recently refurbished Keirby Hotel in Burnley is set to celebrate the second anniversary of its monthly soul and Motown night on Saturday January 19. Ginger Taylor, Terry Davies and Roman with special guest Dave Comer will play storming Sixties, Seventies
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Raising a glass to the career moves
THE great British public is officially working the longest hours in Europe but a Blackburn pub is urging local people to put it all into perspective. O'Neill's in King William Street wants to raise a glass to all those who have escaped the trials and
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The inn-side story of locals
MORE than a dozen East Lancashire watering holes have made it into a new book promoting pubs with atmosphere and character. Hidden Inns of Lancashire and Cheshire is a handy guide to more than 100 traditional pubs, giving a well-written and detailed description
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£1m needed for arts and crafts centre
PRIVATE finance could be sought to finally lift the uncertainty surrounding the future of Bury Arts and Crafts Centre. £1 million is needed to bring the historic Broad Street building up to scratch and to allow it to meet strict new criteria over disabled
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School's sports college goal
A BURY high school is bidding for £400,000 to spearhead the development of an "open for all" sports college to benefit pupils and the community. And if given the go-ahead for specialist school status, Broad Oak will offer a range of sporting activities
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Brighton game a tough one
PRESTON finally start their FA Cup campaign tonight - but the potential for a banana skin result is dangerously high. The trip to Brighton was postponed nearly a fortnight ago due to a frozen pitch. The game tonight is definatley on, and against a team
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Take a chance at this G-Mex show
MANCHESTER'S G-Mex is the venue for the British Franchise Exhibition which will offer would-be entrepreneurs a host of business opportunities. The event will take place on February 1 and 2 and among the companies looking for new franchisees are Kall Kwik
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Chamber Events
THE Chamber is holding two breakfast seminars in January 2002. The first is a talk by Professor Gus John on Diversity in the Workplace. This will be held at Mytton Fold Farm on January 25, at 8.30am, Don't miss this one, to register ring Barbara or Christine
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Phones ring the changes
MOBILE phones are improving the efficiency and safety of council workers - and, thanks to independent advice, are saving local council-taxpayers' money. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has now supplied almost 200 staff with the mobile phones which
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MY FIRST: Paul's passion for cars
PAUL BOWKER, 33, is director of the Bowker BMW and MINI dealerships in Accrington and Preston. He started with the firm during school holidays and worked his way through the ranks of the family-owned business. While other members of the Bowker clan operate
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Andy's home comforts
BURY boss Andy Preece is looking for some home comfort to help his side climb up the Second Division table. Defeat at Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday saw the Shakers slide back into the relegation places and Preece is keen to make sure their stay in
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Noise probe by council
INVESTIGATIONS are to be carried out into noise nuisance following complaints from residents in the Mayfield Flats, Darwen. A petition has been sent to council chiefs from the residents, claiming a firm operating in Junction Street is disturbing them.
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Mental health base ready for go-ahead
A NEW mental health centre is set to be opened in Darwen after council bosses secured £750,000 in funding. The project, to be based inside a purpose-built property, will be the first new scheme to be operated by Blackburn with Darwen Council and the new
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Conman posed as detective
POLICE today renewed their appeal for witnesses after linking an incident in which a man posing as a detective targeted an 86-year-old woman with other offences. The latest incidents, involving what is thought to be the same man, were reported in Edenfield
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Dental patient had to walk 14 miles
EAST Lancashire's dental crisis was being raised in Parliament today by a worried MP who revealed a man was forced to walk a round trip of 14 miles just to receive treatment. Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said she was shocked when she received
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'Enforcers' step up crime crackdown
POLICE have promised burglars a 'high quality service' as they step up their activity targeting vehicle crime and burglary as part of the ongoing crime crackdown, Operation Enforce. The initiative, initially launched in October last year as a two-week
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Back to school for a business boost
A SCHOOL on green belt land is planning a £2million development which business leaders have hailed as a prospective boost to East Lancashire's sparse conference facilities. Independent Westholme School in Blackburn wants to build a new sixth-form centre
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North last in line for rail cash handout - claim
MPs and passenger groups claim East Lancashire has been overlooked in the £70 billion package to improve Britain's rail network. They feel many of the plans, announced yesterday by the Strategic Rail Authority, focus too much on London and the South East
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Who is bigger?
WHETHER Blackburn are a big or small club may be open to debate. What is a rock solid, cast iron, sure-fire certainty, borne out by the respective attendance figures at Turf Moor and Ewood Park over the last 20 odd years, is that there will be far more
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Cash tangle robs couple of holiday
A LONG-serving policeman's wife today claimed she would have to cancel her silver wedding celebrations because of changes to the force's pay policy. The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was furious at the changes which, she said, would leave
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Souey need only ask
REGARDING the remarks of C H Whiteside (Sport Letters, January 8) giving Graeme Souness a new deal is not the point -- Graeme only needs to ask the board and he will be given as long as he wants. Surely, the reason Rovers were relegated three seasons
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Did husband die in vain?
THE widow of a brave grandad who died while tackling burglars at his Spanish holiday home, said today she felt abandoned by police investigating the case. Sheila McCaughran said she felt like nothing had been done to catch the men responsible for her
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Climber's seven-hour ordeal
A CLIMBER was rescued in a seven-hour operation after getting stuck 250 feet up a cliff. The 25-year-old, from Bury, became stranded on a small ledge on the 400-foot Falcon Crag in the Grisedale area of the Lake District. A huge rescue operation was launched
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EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Wednesday, January 15
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Pendle Citizens Advice Bureau drop in advice session, Earby Community Centre, New Road, 10am-noon. Blackburn Probus Club meet St Silas Parish Rooms, Preston New Road,
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Why does widow still await justice?
SHEILA McCaughran suffered the horror of seeing her husband Joseph dragged along by a burglar's getaway car and suffering serious head injuries that killed him. It was a terrible crime by any yardstick. It was one that a coroner's inquest said was unlawful
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Watchdog hits out at hospital forms
A HEALTH watchdog has voiced fears that patients being discharged from hospital are being asked to fill in lengthy forms for no reason. Members of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley CHC argued at their board meeting that it was unlikely anything
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Ecstasy given minutes before search
DOORMEN at Utopia nightclub in Blackburn found 30 ecstasy tablets when they searched Natasha Jaqueline Kelly as she entered the club, a court was told. But Blackburn magistrates heard that Kelly, 19, had been given the tablets by her companion just minutes
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'Horror' start for study support scheme
HORROR! is the first in a series of study support events aimed at pupils in Blackburn and Darwen. The aim of the study support programme is to encourage young people to use the resources of the borough's libraries and museum for learning and leisure.
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Magic time promised as panto fun returns
BACUP'S Royal Court Theatre is echoing to sounds of 'It's behind you' as it's panto time - featuring genie Luke Goodwin being released from his lamp. Bacup Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society began its run of Aladdin this weekend and the performances
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Safe roads are part of services
MIKE Hoyle (Letters, January 10) is quite right to lambast Blackburn with Darwen Council's abysmal gritting performance. But his suggestion that we move to the services of 2002 is most frightening indeed. What is needed is a return to the standard of
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Games baton honour for Andy
A NEW year's honour of a different kind has been bestowed on an officer who works for Whitefield Ambulance Station. For Andy Cooper (24), an employee in the human resources department, has been chosen to take part in the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay --
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Shots fired at Asian group
SHOTS were fired at a group of Asian youths as they stood outside a Bury takeaway. At least two cartridges were discharged from a pump action shotgun in what detectives have described as a "dispute" between two Asian men. No-one was injured as a result
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Did husband die in vain?
THE widow of a brave grandad who died while tackling burglars at his Spanish holiday home, said today she felt abandoned by police investigating the case. Sheila McCaughran said she felt like nothing had been done to catch the men responsible for her
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Game young people polish their skills
BURY'S young Commonwealth Games ambassadors have finished the first lap of their quest for full-time employment. Eighteen young people from the borough have been presented with a level one qualification from the Open College Federation. And each will
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RMI strike form in Trophy goal show
Emley 1 Leigh RMI 4 by Martyn Hindley: LEIGH RMI hammered Unibond Premier League side Emley with a superb exhibition of passing football that saw them through to a last 32 FA Trophy clash with Margate at Hartsdown Park on February 2. RMI were criticised
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Craig fancies a Ruud record
IN-FORM Rover Craig Hignett is hoping to become Ewood's answer to Ruud Van Nistelrooy by firing the goals to sink his old club Barnsley in the FA Cup tomorrow. While Manchester United star Van Nistelrooy continues to blaze a goals trail in the Premiership
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Appeal for driver who saw fatal smash
POLICE are appealing for the driver of an estate car to come forward with vital information about a fatal road accident. Officers investigating the crash want the driver of a black estate car travelling behind a Ford Mondeo to get in touch. The driver
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Handbag snatcher attacks victim aged 82
AN 82-year-old woman suffered cuts and bruises as she was dragged to the ground in an attempted handbag snatch. The pensioner was about to enter her home in Rylands Street, Burnley, at 9.10pm last night when she was attacked from behind by a young woman
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Clarets devotee to be buried in strip
LIFELONG Clarets football fan Stephen Tyhurst is to be buried in a Burnley shirt. Mr Tyhurst, who was 47, died at his home in Tennyson Avenue, Padiham, after months of fighting a heart problem. One of his six daughters Sarah said: "He died peacefully
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Councillors urged to back survey
BURNLEY councillors are being asked to give their backing to an East Lancashire "Quality of Life" survey. Members of Burnley Borough Council have been recommended to take part in the survey which is to probe people's perceptions of East Lancashire as
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All the world's a stage for the Burnley actors
THIS week we take a look at the careers of television actors and actresses who were born in Burnley. The first person who was born in Burnley who acted in a leading role in a television drama programme was Mary Mackenzie. In about 1949 she played the
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Four more homes? No way says council
PLANS to build four detached houses on the site of the former Hide Restaurant in Colne met with opposition from councillors who said there had already been permission for enough houses on the development. Despite planning officers recommending approval
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Ten years ago
A QUICK-THINKING dad saved his family from injury when a scooter caught fire in his Blackburn flat. Mark Royal, 19, plunged his hands into the flames to throw the bike outside so that his girlfriend and 13-month-old baby could escape.
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Five years ago
BUSINESS people called for closed circuit television after teenage vandals jumped on car roofs and smashed shop windows during an hour-long rampage through Darwen town centre. At least five vehicles and four businesses were targeted by a gang of up to
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Demand for FA tickets high
CHELTENHAM'S home allocation for the FA Cup fourth round tie against the Clarets have been sold. Burnley have been sent an allocation of 1,946 tickets and demand for them is high. In the anticipated event of a complete sell- out the attendance at Whaddon
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Luigi's new deal
WHILE Burnley boss Stan Ternent continues his search for a striker, he has moved to strengthen his defence by extending the contract of second choice goalkeeper Luigi Cennamo. The German-born, Greek citizen of Italian parents initially signed a six month
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Pierre's arrival
BURNLEY have named South African Pierre Joubert as their new professional for the forthcoming Transco Lancashire League season. The 23-year-old all-rounder, who plays for Northern Transvaal, replaces the popular Dale Benkenstein, who took the Turf Moor
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Arran helps set new England record
BARNOLDSWICK run-maker Arran Thompson and England teammate Caroline Atkins set a new England record opening partnership in posting 150 at the end of day one of the first Test against India at Lucknow yesterday. Atkins (64no) and Thompson (60no), opening
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Hey presto, Andrew's the new face
AN Accrington pub which has seen several new faces behind the bar in recent months has now got a permanent licensee -- but customers still won't believe their eyes. For Andrew Alexander, new landlord at The Kings, Lee Street, is a trained magician who
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Luigi's new deal
WHILE Burnley boss Stan Ternent continues his search for a striker, he has moved to strengthen his defence by extending the contract of second choice goalkeeper Luigi Cennamo. The German-born, Greek citizen of Italian parents initially signed a six month
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Craig fancies a Ruud record
IN-FORM Rover Craig Hignett is hoping to become Ewood's answer to Ruud Van Nistelrooy by firing the goals to sink his old club Barnsley in the FA Cup tomorrow. While Manchester United star Van Nistelrooy continues to blaze a goals trail in the Premiership
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Launch of training initiative
COMMITTED to adding even more value to East Lancashire Businesses. The Chamber of Commerce has launched a new Training initiative to help to develop the knowledge and skills of the East Lancashire workforce. Chamber Business Training, based at Red Rose
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Business crime hits hard, says survey
CRIMES against businesses costs the UK economy £18.8bn per year with firms more than twice as likely to be the victim of crime than individuals, according to a major new survey on business crime published by the British Chambers of Commerce. In a wake-up
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So, who cares if I'm related to a film star?
"YOU look like Maureen O'Hara, are you Irish?" old men often asked me when I lived in London. I don't know why, but the further south you go, people seem to associate red hair and a pale complexion with the Emerald Isle, and to male pensioners I bore
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Cash in their pockets - now how to spend it?
VILLAGERS in Eccleshill can say how they want £75,000 of regeneration money to be spent, during an exhibition later this month. Locals in Hoddlesden have already had their say after their event was held in the village at the weekend. Now the villages
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Head's learning trip to Canada
LESSONS about the French Revolution could soon be taught in the native tongue at Rossendale's language college. The innovative idea is being studied by Elizabeth Woolley, head of the upper school at Rawtenstall's All Saints High, who will next month be
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Store in major Science Trail project
A MAJOR Science for Schools scheme will be launched at the Asda store in Bury Road, Rawtenstall, on Monday, January 25. Rossendale schools are being invited to visit the supermarket to complete in the Big Science Trails which are linked to the National
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Windows smashed during church vandal attack
VANDALS have attacked St Joseph's RC Church, Stacksteads, smashing a number of windows including four of stained glass. Parish priest Fr Peter Boast discovered the damage as he arrived to prepare for services on Sunday morning. The stained glass windows
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Firm's novelty theme is icing on the cake
HIGH-FLYING Harry Potter has helped put the icing on the cake for Blackburn-based baker Inter Link Foods. Half-year profits have surged after a healthy string of acquisitions by the group, which makes products including Swiss rolls and cherry bakewells
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Attacked priest's son faces reduced charges
THE son of a former Blackburn church minister had an attempted murder charge against him dropped when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for the first time. Simeon Dagger is accused of attacking his father, the Rev Kenneth Dagger, at the family home
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Shooting victim's memory to live on
THE former school of shooting victim Anthony Rigby is considering a permanent memorial in his honour. Anthony, 18, lost his fight for life on Friday night four days after he was shot in the head at his Swift Close home, in the Larkhill area of Blackburn
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Football museum on the ball with 'Monkey'
A MAN called Monkey who helped to found Blackburn Rovers more than 100 years ago is starring at another ground these days. Monkey Hornby -- aka Albert -- was one of the guiding lights who brought football to mill workers in the town in the 19th century
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Scrapping of team adds to health bill
MEMBERS of Community Health Councils in Burnley and Blackburn have hit out at news their replacement will cost almost ten times more than they do. The Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley CHC and Burnley CHC are two of hundreds of CHCs which are due
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Cup nuisance
DEREK Power (Sport Letters, January 8) accuses me of knocking a competition just because, by coincidence Blackburn Rovers are in the last four. I don't recall mentioning Rovers at all when I made my remarks -- after their win against Arsenal reserves
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Underwood hopes it was unlucky 13
GREAT Harwood boss Denis Underwood says Kidsgrove hold no fear - despite their 13-0 trouncing of Flixton at the weekend. The two sides clash in Staffordshire tonight in the replay of the quarter-finals of the Worthington Challenge Trophy after they drew
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Vicky has Paula in her sights
PAULA RADCLIFFE is a name that needs no introduction - but Chorley Harrier Vicky Gill will be aiming to upstage her. The 21-year-old is hoping to run in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester this year in the 10,000 metres. And this could bring her up against
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Future of town under discussion
PEOPLE in Radcliffe are being offered the chance to shape the future of their community under a radical regeneration project. Council chiefs and residents will discuss options for the development of the East Lancashire Paper Mill site in Church Street
