Archive
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EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Thursday, Date: February 14
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Mayor's Charity Valentine Special Afternoon Music Hall, King George's Hal, Blackburn, 4-7pm. Half term craft workshop, Burnley Mechanics, 10am-3pm. Open Day, Moorland
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Was clock pledge just a wind-up?
THOUGH it chimes aptly with the catalogue of delay, frustration and foul-ups that have accompanied the £6million revamp of Blackburn's railway station, the saga of its 'missing' clocks suggests that rail bosses have as much concern for the town's heritage
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Put brakes on selfish bikers
IT is bad enough that the peace and quiet of the countryside in East Lancashire is being destroyed by motorbike scramblers using moorland beauty spots as illegal racetracks. But it is an outrage that they are also destroying some of the world's most important
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Starling role for bird pest
LAST week I was driving to North Wales on a day of sweeping rain and high wind. As dawn broke I saw a flock of thousands of starlings circling around and battling with the elements. I have not seen an aerobatic display for more than ten years. In the
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My life was about looking for my next hit
WITH drugs seemingly everywhere, a former addict from Blackburn who says he has been to hell and back is trying to help stop people following his sorry example. David Higgerson talked to Paul Cullen, who has now won a young person of the community award
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Takeover twist at Gigg
THE long-running Bury Football Club takeover saga has taken another twist with the news that Alex Tarsus has distanced himself from proposed new owners Mansport Developments. The Yorkshire-based Turkish businessman, whose son Edward is a player at Gigg
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Three accused of kidnap
THREE men have been remanded in custody on charges of kidnapping a man in East Lancashire. Nawaz Khan, 21, of Preston New Road; Tariq Ellahi, 29, of Trevor Close, and Irfan Mahmood, 21, of Whalley New Road, all Blackburn, are jointly charged with kidnapping
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Four men bailed after customs swoop
FOUR men arrested following a Customs and Excise swoop which uncovered more than three million smuggled cigarettes have been bailed pending further inquiries. Officers discovered the haul -- with a value of around £750,000 -- in a warehouse at Abbey Village
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Man is cleared of drug imports
CHARGES have been dropped against a Blackburn man accused of smuggling into the country almost £1million of cannabis. Customs and Excise bosses withdrew the case against David Green almost six months after he was arrested and charged with importing illegal
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Challenge for drugs worker
A BLACKBURN charity which helps drug addicts rebuild their lives and battle their addiction has appointed a new community worker to deal specifically with the Asian community. Hanis Ali starts his role with the charity THOMAS, Those on The Margins of
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We could do the job better
PAYING an extra £6.50 in council tax for gritting (LET, February 5) is not worth its salt. I would soon be on to Councillor Ashley Whalley of Blackburn with Darwen Council, asking where the heck the gritters were while listening to his limp excuses as
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Colour lives
in legend IN reply to Mrs A Westall (Letters, February 8) who asked how the robin got his red breast, the robin became popular in the 16th century, when it was deemed evil to kill one. Legend has it if you killed a robin, bad luck and ill would live with
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We warned county council
ERIC Leaver (LET, February 6) understood the complexity of the proposed closures of homes for the elderly by Lancashire County Council. We in Lancashire Care Association have been putting up with the constant claptrap that has been symbolic of LCC since
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Record books ahoy!
SAILOR siblings Jim and Geoff Perkins hope to make waves with their challenge for a place in the record books. The pair believe that they and their brothers hold a record for the highest number of brothers serving simultaneously in the Royal Navy during
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Souey faces keeper crisis
ROVERS keeper Alan Miller could be in line for a dramatic recall from Scottish exile after Alan Kelly suffered a freak injury while on duty with the Republic of Ireland. Kelly was set to face Russia at Lansdowne Road this evening but injured a knee in
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Clifford elected director of NHS trust
AN outspoken health supremo today vowed he would not be silenced despite being appointed a non-executive director of Burnley Health Care NHS Trust -- which runs the area's hospitals. Frank Clifford, chairman of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community
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Stunt just Asda be the kindest cut of all
FIVE workers at the Burnley Asda store had their heads shaved and another lost his beard to raise money for a makeover at a local children's home. The event was organised by the Colleagues' Circle at the store and local police to provide funds for Easden
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Man took car from rival in custody battle
AN ex-soldier who helped himself to a car belonging to the father of his girlfriend's son was using it as a "bargaining tool" in a custody battle over the child, a court heard. Burnley magistrates were told Peter Frederick Harrison, 31, also took children's
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Culture strategy to be launched
A NEW initiative designed to bring culture within the reach of Burnley residents looks set to be launched later this year. Burnley Council are working on a new 'culture strategy' after the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said it expected all local
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Teens' meeting place programme paying off
BURNLEY youngsters are to get more places to meet their friends through a £300,000 Teenzone programme. The council is to continue to provide and improve youth shelters across the borough - a move which has the full backing of the police. The future of
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Man attacked in subway
NELSON Police are appealing for witnesses to an incident in which a 35-year old-man was attacked. The man had been walking into the subway off Hibson Road towards the town centre, at around 7.45pm on Monday, when he was approached from behind. Police
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New-look bakers 'going for broke'
A LONG-established bakery shop is to reopen, after a six-week refurbishment project. Oddie's Bakery Shop, in Scotland Road, Nelson, will re-open on Monday. Oddie's has been in Scotland Road since the early 1920s and the shop has remained virtually unaltered
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Accident claim pair steal cash from pub
POLICE are looking for a man who pretended to have had an accident in the car park of the Morris Dancers, Colne, while his partner in crime stole more than £2,000 from the pub's safe. DC Dean Holden, of Colne CID, said: "The manageress was distracted
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Farm buildings may be houses
FARM buildings at Pasture Farm, in Colne, could be turned into houses, if councillors approve the plans tomorrow night. The Colne and District Committee will be asked to consider the proposal for the conversion of traditional farm buildings, the oldest
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The Hall Collection
THE classical concert going public are not usually prone to giving artists standing ovations, however that changed at this concert of the Hall Orchestra with soloist Jane Eaglen, England's premier dramatic soprano. The audience sprang to their feet, and
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Ten years ago
ACCRINGTON jumped into the top ten of repossession hotspots, mortgage lenders revealed. Nationally more than 220 homes were lost a day, and there was a 156 per cent increase in Accrington.
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Five years ago
HEARTBROKEN families were counting their losses after 50 Blackburn homes were swamped with flood water. A mains pipe burst sending torrents of water cascading into homes on Fishmoor Drive. Parents waded in to rescue children and pets.
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MPs step up hunt ban call
EAST Lancashire Labour MPs want to see Westminster follow Scotland and ban hunting with hounds. Today the Scottish Parliament was outlawing fox hunting, stag hunting and hare coursing and Hyndburn's Greg Pope and Burnley's Peter Pike want the Commons
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Not so nice one, Cyril!
LUCKLESS landlord Ian Hawes has vowed the show must go on despite a catalogue of disasters which has dogged his first months in charge. And at least one of the strange goings on at the Bay Horse Inn, Osbaldeston, has been blamed on a supernatural presence
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Murphy clinches vital win
A JOHN Murphy goal helped Blackpool beat North West rivals Wigan Athletic for the third time this season and move 9 points away from the drop zone. Blackpools first ever win at the JJB Stadium is impressive when you take into consideration that Wigan
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Form guide...
A LOOK at the key stats and figures from the game against Rotherham. Clarets: MARLON BERESFORD: While there were some poor performances in front of him the keeper was cool under pressure...8 DEAN WEST: Was effective going forward and one of the Clarets
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What are you scared of, Chris?
WHO the heck does Lancashire social services supremo County Councillor Chris Cheetham think he is? We know he's the person calling for the closure of 35 LCC old folk's homes, entailing the uprooting of scores of old folk. But what makes him think he can
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Schools drained by supply gravy train!
THE case of GCSE students at a Blackburn high school having had seven different maths teachers since Christmas once more highlights the staff shortages that confront education. But, you know, there isn't really a shortage at all. There are droves of teachers
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Souey faces keeper crisis
ROVERS keeper Alan Miller could be in line for a dramatic recall from Scottish exile after Alan Kelly suffered a freak injury while on duty with the Republic of Ireland. Kelly was set to face Russia at Lansdowne Road this evening but injured a knee in
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Ternent calm despite Clarets struggle
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent was keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the prize after a disappointing performance at Millmoor. His Burnley side did not play well yet still came away with a 1-1 draw at struggling Rotherham - penalties from Gareth Taylor and Mark
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Camera club puts talent in the frame
AN exhibition of work by members of Darwen Camera Club is currently on display at the town's library in Knott Street. A wide range of pieces are being shown including traditional monochrome prints, conventional colour photographs and digital prints. The
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Venue switch
MEMBERS of the Teeny Group are to have a change of day and venue from Thursday next week. The popular group, who meet at Earcroft Community Base, will instead gather at Hollins Grove Congregational Church, Hawkshaw Avenue, on Thursday evenings between
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School's poll day
THE youngest candidate in a school's youth council election was picked by classmates to represent them. Three students from Alder Grange High School in Rawtenstall put themselves forward as candidates for the elections -- Jody Loveday of year nine, Ian
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S-miles better way of raising raise cash
ROSSENDALE Hospice is encouraging people to say cheese in a bid to raise some extra cash. So whether you've a big beaming smile or a toothy grin, the message is 'show your teeth' and smile your way to raising funds. Fund-raiding manager Liz Nelson said
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Curfew threat over spate of trouble
FOUR teenagers from Haslingden who are responsible for almost 100 offences and incidents in the town could soon be subject to police curfews and restrictions. Rossendale police are pursuing the first anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) on two 14-year-olds
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Battle plans drawn over village homes
VILLAGERS packed a meeting to form a battle plan against 42 houses in Weir. The Wordsworth Corporation, from Cheshire, was refused permission by Rossendale Council for the development on the former Irwell Springs mill site off Heald Lane. But the company
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Chemists open
THE local Sunday chemist rota. Blackpool: Boots*, 28-38 Bank Hey Street, 10.30-4.30pm; Co-op Pharmacy (in Asda), Cherry Tree Road, Marton, 10-4pm; Moss Chemist, Morrisons, Squires Gate Lane, 10-4pm; Lloyds Pharmacy*, 110 Talbot Rd, 10-5pm; Superdrug,
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Sure Start is fun for everyone
NEIGHBOURS enjoyed the chance to have their say on a new government initiative during the first of two half-term community events. Sure Start, which aims to give children up to four a flying start in life, is gathering pace in Blackburn as consultation
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Sure Start is fun for everyone
NEIGHBOURS enjoyed the chance to have their say on a new government initiative during the first of two half-term community events. Sure Start, which aims to give children up to four a flying start in life, is gathering pace in Blackburn as consultation
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Second hand shops facing crime purge
SECOND hand dealers are being warned to expect more visits from the police in a bid to clamp down on the stolen goods market. Dealers in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, will be receiving letters from the police giving details of
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Church 'threat' in faith schools row
TEACHERS claim they were threatened by a churchman in a row over whether Blackburn should get three new state faith schools. National Union of Teachers general secretary Doug McEvoy is to write to Blackburn Diocese director of education Canon Peter Ballard
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Purvis sees red
DARWEN keeper Lee Purvis was controversially sent off in the NWCL second division game against Leek CSOB at the Anchor Ground last night. A long through ball was played down the middle by the Leek defender and Purvis came out to collect it. But the assistant
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Appeal for help in brick attack
A FRESH appeal for information has been made after a woman was hit in the face with a brick, resulting in her needing 12 stitches. The 23-year-old was walking along an isolated footpath on Grundy Lane, Bury, shortly before 7.30pm last Friday when she
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Drivers take care in country
ALTHOUGH there is a lot of winter still to come, the days are getting longer and some of our mammals, including foxes and badgers, are now moving about over greater distances. On the road between Blackburn and Chorley I found a dead fox which had obviously
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Spring is on the way
THIS is the time of the year when records start pouring in of sightings of frog spawn. This is always a happy time and a sign that spring is on the way. The year 2002, however, may well have a sad side to it. In the south of England frogs are coming out
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Church's new appeal
THE second in a series of six monthly services aimed at making church more appealing will take place at Leamington Road Baptist Church, Blackburn, on Sunday February 24 at 6.30pm. The service Facing Up to Relationships, aimed at the 20 to 30 age group
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Charity helping beat the blues
PENSIONERS can lift the winter blues -- thanks to a local charity. Age Concern Blackburn with Darwen is urging older people to pamper themselves and take advantage of a range of holistic and beauty therapies available at its Blackburn office. A fully-qualified
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Road surface 'frightening'
On a visit to Blackburn during the snow, I experienced the most frightening road conditions in more than 40 years of driving. Your local council apparently has no regard for the safety of its citizens and council tax payers and seems also to have a totally
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Grit vote only fans the flames
REGARDING 'Welcome from council boss for grit vote' (Letters, February 6), Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Bill Taylor's attempts to remove the heat from Coun Ashley Whalley's failures only fans the flames more with his pathetic claim that the result
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East Lancs Road car fire drama
A CAR burst into flames on one of Leigh's main roads early today. A man had nearly completed his journey from Halifax to Stone Cross Industrial Estate in Leigh, when his vehicle caught fire on the East Lancs Road due to a fault. A fire service spokesman
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Long live the Queen, says royal fan Brian
PROUD pensioner Brian Horridge publicly demonstrated his loyalty to the throne on Wednesday (Feb 6). To mark the 50th anniversary of Princess Elizabeth becoming Queen, Mr Horridge (69) displayed a portrait of Her Majesty in the upstairs window of his
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Bike riders destroying wildlife
MOTOCROSS riders who are destroying some of the world's most important bird breeding grounds were told today: "Stop now or face a £20,000 fine". Landowners, members of Burnley Council and officers from Pennine police are stepping up their campaign to
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Row over station's two Victorian clocks
RAIL bosses today left commuters and heritage campaigners steaming by refusing to return two Victorian clocks to the platforms at Blackburn station. The ornate timepieces, which had clocked arrivals and departures since the station opened on September
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Answer to our prayers
MEMBERS of Bury's Bolton Road Methodist Church celebrated an answer to their prayers for a new church with an official opening service at the weekend. The modern facility, complete with creche, community hall and youth room, replaces an old building some
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Colls aim for final glory
Goldline Trophy Preview by Martyn Hindley: ATHERTON Collieries and Prestwich Heys battle it out for a place in the Goldline Final when they meet tonight at Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park. Colls will start with the advantage having beaten Prestwich
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Stuart head to Chesterfield
CENTRAL defender Stuart Howson was set to join Chesterfield today for a nominal fee. The 20-year-old has featured several times in Rovers reserves this season.
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Asta looks at Rovers
SOURCES in Italy report that Torino captain Tonino Asta still favours a close season move to Rovers despite interest from Inter Milan and Roma. He is set to make his international debut for Italy against the USA today.
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Mac and Morgan come to escue
ROVERS Reserves left it late against Sheffield Wednesday at Morecambe last night to claim the points with two goals in the last five minutes. David McNamee and substitute Alan Morgan did the damage for Alan Murray's men after Pablo Bonvin had given the
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Culture strategy to be launched
A NEW initiative designed to bring culture within the reach of Burnley residents looks set to be launched later this year. Burnley Council are working on a new 'culture strategy' after the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said it expected all local
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Learning, USA style
STUDENTS at a school in Brierfield have been learning about the American way of life this week. The youngsters at Mansfield High School, in Elland Road, have been working with a team of visitors from Chicago who had come to East Lancashire to join the
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Quackers out of school
CHILDREN attending the Crazy Quackers out-of-school and holiday group, at St Annes Church Hall in Fence, will be dressing in safari gear tomorrow. They will be taking part in African themed workshops where they will come face to face with real parrots
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Homes bid to give the best value
MEMBERS of Nelson's council's executive board will be asked to support proposals for the restructuring of housing and community services in Pendle tonight in response to a recent Best Value Report. In the report the service was rated as one star and inspectors
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Churches join forces
METHODISTS and Catholics have joined forces to come up with a novel way of solving their church building problems -- build a new one for both faiths. And the unique project is being watched nationally to see how the two faiths manage to combine and could
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Woman denies wounding teenager
A TEENAGER ended up with "half " her ear missing after a woman allegedly sank her teeth into her in a Colne nightclub. Vicky Simonite was covered in blood and "in a mess," after Carly Davidson, 20, was said to have grabbed her hair, jumped on her back
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Nuisance boy before court again
AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy who became the youngest person in the country to be served with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order after he brought terror to his neighbourhood has appeared in court again. The boy, who lives in Clitheroe but cannot be named for legal reasons
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Sports barn's 10-year tale of success
WHEN the doors to Roefield Leisure Centre in Clitheroe first opened 10 years ago its backers could little have envisaged the success it would be today. A decade on, the centre which started out as nothing more than a listed barn has gone from strength
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Ternent calm despite Clarets struggle
BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent was keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the prize after a disappointing performance at Millmoor. His Burnley side did not play well yet still came away with a 1-1 draw at struggling Rotherham - penalties from Gareth Taylor and Mark
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Trouble at Mill
JUST inches separated two former Clarets from being the toast of Millmoor and the scourge of their old club. Midfielder John Mullin and striker Alan Lee had arguably the best opportunities to settle an uninspiring encounter however, fortunately for Burnley
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Weavers in Glazebury
THE Houghton Weavers are appearing live in Glazebury on Saturday in a fund-raising concert which will benefit the village school, scouts and both churches. Bar facilities are available. Tickets cost £9 each -- call Robert Graham on 01925 767599 or Terry
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Beware of skids at the ballot box
A WAGON-LOAD of salt, rather than a mere pinch, I think, needs to be taken with Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Bill Taylor's assertion that the 64 per cent 'No' in this newspaper's poll on whether householders would be prepared to pay an extra £6.50
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School report: Did do better!
A SCHOOL which was failing to give pupils an acceptable education two years ago has won high marks in a new government report. St Edward's RC Primary School, Darwen, was placed under "special measures" - which included the introduction of a dedicated
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'Bucket boys' recruit
FUND-raising duo James Molloy and Shane Holt who are affectionately known as the 'bucket boys' of Alder Grange High School in Rawtenstall have enlisted a new recruit. Christian Rawsthorne has joined the lads who walk round the school during break and
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Town centre revamp plan nears completion
PLANNERS of a multi-million pound redevelopment of Rawtenstall town centre are waiting for the district valuer to put a figure on the town hall. Plans would include demolition of the building, which would be replaced by a new town hall constructed on
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Teenager in fight for life
A TEENAGE security guard is fighting for his life after an attack in an area blighted during the Oldham riots. Gavin Hopley, 19, of Horsefield Avenue, Whitworth, suffered a fractured skull. He and two teenage friends strayed into Glodwick -- one of the
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Fighter 'hits turbulence'
THE Eurofighter programme on which tens of thousands of Lancashire jobs depend has hit teething problems, it was claimed today. The Ministry of Defence is withholding part of its payments to BAE Systems for the Eurofighter until continuing delays are
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Hooligans' website is closed down
A SOCCER hooligans' website promoting violence and racism has been closed down. The site included a calendar of forthcoming games with details of organised trouble and was linked to gangs throughout the North West including Blackburn. It was created on
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Man is cleared of attack
A 42-YEAR-OLD man has been cleared of attacking a husband and wife and another man in the same night. David Carrie, who was alleged to have bitten off part of one victim's ear, was found not guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, two
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Fighter 'hits turbulence'
THE Eurofighter programme on which tens of thousands of Lancashire jobs depend has hit teething problems, it was claimed today. The Ministry of Defence is withholding part of its payments to BAE Systems for the Eurofighter until continuing delays are
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Finance snag hits hospitals merger
MANAGERS putting together plans to bring Blackburn's hospitals on to one site say they have had to put their schedule back by two months. The single site project will see services from Blackburn Royal Infirmary brought onto the same site as Queen's Park
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Stop missing appointments
PATIENTS who fail to turn up for hospital appointments have been criticised by Blackburn's top hospital boss. Ian Woolley, chairman of the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, which runs Queen's Park Hospital and Blackburn Royal Infirmary,
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Fans to sue police over Ewood 'attack'
SHEFFIELD Wednesday fans are set to sue Lancashire Police for alleged brutality at last month's Worthington Cup semi-final. The supporters claim they were attacked by police officers wearing riot gear during the game at Ewood Park. And several Wednesday
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Harwood ready
GREAT Harwood have the daunting prospect of a trip to NWCL Division One high fliers St Helens tonight but are in good spirits. Having lost just one of their last four league encounters. boss Denis Underwood feels the addition of experienced midfielder
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Cosens can make dreams come true
IAN Cosens had a dream. A dream to create a league where second team players could compete for points, a dream where a win meant a win and a dream where a league table showed just how good or bad a team was. That dream is the North West Pennines Second
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Votes-by-post plan falls at first hurdle
MOVES to mothball Bury's polling booths in favour of a vote-by-post system has failed to win a mandate from ministers. The offer to pilot a 100 per cent postal election for this May's council elections was turned down after it failed to attract support
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Pool secure LDV final berth
POOL progressed to the final of LDV Vans Trophy thanks to an extra time strike from Martin Bullock. The Seasiders lost the tie 2-0 on the night but a 3-1 win at Bloomfield Road in the first leg ensured that the game went into extra time with the Golden
