Archive
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Ending the misery of home violence
TWENTY years ago victims of domestic violence had virtually nowhere to turn for help. Whether police paid any attention to criminal assaults at home depended very much on the personal initiative of the officer who was called to the scene. The culture
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Animal Aid
Bob the mouse and family on lookout for a new house BOB the mouse is looking for a new house -- and so are a cluster of his brother and sisters. The tiny animal was part of a large family of mice abandoned on wasteland in freezing weather just before
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Mark's out of 10 TV column
YOU know when you go into an art gallery and you see the sort of painting which is just splashes of colour and seems to mean nothing but has all the so-called experts fawning over it? Well, The Book Group is the televisual version of that. Complete nonsense
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Saturday Sermon
The Rev Dale Barton, County Inter Faith Development Officer, Ewood, Blackburn Places of worship employ at least 95 people HE IS dead they say. Yet three-fifths of the people of Blackburn and Darwen claim to look to Him for inspiration in their lives.
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Kevin's pop star lifestyle's a Brit of all right
THERE was a long pause before Kevin Simm answered what appeared to be a very simple question. Eventually, after considerable umming and ahhing and buying for time, he said: "There have been so many high points in the last year, it's hard to pick just
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Asylum journey well worthwhile
I DON'T know whether A Sedgwick (Letters, February 10) was being funny or just naive. Anyone can see why so many people want to live here. We are the only country which puts them up in five-star accommodation and gives them money for doing nothing. That's
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London marchers were hypocrites
I HAVE never seen so many hypocrites in my life as the people who went on the big marched to stop the war on Iraq. How many of them rushed to stop Saddam Hussein spraying his own people with poisonous gas, killing thousands? How many went to Iran when
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Spend £1m on improving homes
REGARDING the £1million scheme to breathe new life into rundown areas of Hyndburn (LET, February 13), this has to be a joke. The first step should be to upgrade the existing housing in Church and Spring Hill. Money needs to be spent on improving, renovating
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Bureaucrats are the real lunatic fringe
MR R Holdsworth (Letters, February 8) asks why there's no Union Jack flying on Blackburn's new police station. I'll tell you why, it's because the mandarins of Lancashire Police are the same 'politically-correct' army who took it upon themselves recently
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Gone -- the town in which I was born and bred
WHAT has happened to the Blackburn I was born and raised in -- the town of clean streets, quality shops and the finest market in Lancashire? They have been lost through mismanagement by successive councils of different political persuasions, but those
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FAMILY FLEE WAR ZONE
A FAMILY is fleeing Kuwait after being told they are in danger because of the growing threat of war with Iraq. British Embassy officials have instructed Rossendale couple Sean and Sharon McShea and their young children to be out of the country by Monday
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Chor-Leigh get the inside info
CHORLEY'S familiar faces won't be getting any favours from Leigh Centurions when they pull into town for Sunday's Arriva Trains National Cup cross-group match. Dubbed Chor-Leigh because of the number of former Centurions now at Victory Park, the Lynx
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Care event highlights services
AN event is set to be held in Burnley next month to offer people with special needs access to services. The People who Care initiative will take place at Turf Moor on Wednesday, March 5, and will offer a range of opportunities. Organisations signed up
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Councillor in 'pay up' battle
A TORY councillor in Burnley has made a last-ditch bid to get a 60 per cent increase in allowances after a rise was refused by colleagues earlier this week. Conservative councillor Peter Doyle, of the Whittlefield with Ightenhill ward, spoke out in favour
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Man, 20, may face jail after road rage punch
A MAN who punched a groundsman and damaged his cheekbone in a road rage melee, could be facing jail. Kamar Mohmood, 20, had claimed he was at hospital visiting his wife and new baby when the attack occurred on Southfield Street, Nelson. But he was picked
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Benefits of credit union expanding
THE benefits of credit union membership will soon to be brought to the people of Bradley, Brierfield and Whitefield, as Nelson Community Credit Union begins its expansion project. It was launched to members at their 21st AGM yesterday, which was held
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Pining tortoise goes into his shell
A TORTOISE is pining for hits sweetheart -- stolen from a garden centre. And now the manager at Stephen H Smith's in Radcliffe, is making a plea for the return of the tortoise which was one of two which disappeared last Saturday as staff served customers
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'Death call' discovered drunken man
EMERGENCY services were called to a house in Melville Street, off Gisburn Road, Barnoldswick, on Thursday afternoon after reports of a possible death at the house. But when the ambulance arrived it was discovered that the 55-year-old resident was drunk
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Heroin found in police raid on home
AN ALLEGED drug dealer was found with £1,000 cash on him weeks before his home was raided, a jury was told. Mark Haywood, 37, told police the money was part of an inheritance which he planned to spend on a holiday. When his home was later searched, police
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Teenagers rob collapsed man
TWO pickpockets robbed a man of his wallet and watch as he lay unconscious on the floor after an epileptic fit. Police today appealed for information to the catch the two thieves behind the crime, which took place during Thursday morning's rush hour.
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Worker rescued from sewage trench
A WATER board worker was rescued from the bottom of a 30ft trench in Great Harwood after he was hurt by falling debris. The United Utilities worker, who has not been named, was lifted free of the trench on a longboard by firefighters and paramedics using
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Robber who hit shops jailed for 4 years
A MAN who targeted shops, snatching cash from tills in six separate incidents, has been jailed for four years. Preston Crown Court heard David Greaves resorted to crime in a desperate bid to raise money for drugs. His four day "spree" netted nearly £800
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Cramb to be thorn in Roses clash
STRIKER Colin Cramb is fit and desperate for goals as the Shakers bid to get their promotion charge back on the rails at York today. The popular Scot was due to miss Tuesday night's postponed clash with Oxford United after picking up a knee injury last
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Illegal immigrant to be deported
AN illegal immigrant who had been living in Blackburn is set to be deported on Monday. Blackburn magistrates heard that Vojtech Bodnar, 43, of Britten Street, Darwen, was arrested on Sunday and charged with driving without due care and attention, failing
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Pupils belt up and learn martial art
AN initiative to get pupils involved in different pursuits has seen Darwen Vale pupils getting to grips with the ancient art of judo. Around 20 Vale students have been involved in the 12-week sessions to promote confidence building, discipline and improve
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Drug user wanted custody to kick habit
RICHARD Williams, 23, of Police Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to stealing two bottles of Champagne when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates. He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 18 months with a condition that he attends an
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Minister heaps praise on dentist
HEALTH Minister Hazel Blears will praise dentists for helping to fill the gap in Rossendale, when she visits the Valley next week. The MP will meet the team at the newly-built NHS dentist in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, on Monday. The practice was established
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Rethink on ambulance station move for surgery
THE future of a village surgery will go back to planners after a first application was refused. An application to relocate the facility from Farholme Lane, Stacksteads, to the ambulance station premises in Commercial Street were rejected by Rossendale
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Ski slope's a smooth operator
ONE of Rossendale's most popular long-standing tourist attractions is to be given a new lease of life -- a virtual snow surface. Ski Rossendale, Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, is to replace the old Denix matting on the intermediate slope with a new
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Funnyman Kay's two nights not true
BOLTON-BORN funnyman Peter Kay today dispelled rumours he had been booked by fundraisers at a Rossendale cricket club -- but admitted: "I wouldn't say no!" The comedian behind Channel 4's hit series Phoenix Nights said he was extremely busy and would
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Ski slope's a smooth operator
Virtual snow's like real thing By CHARLOTTE BRADSHAW ONE of Rossendale's most popular long-standing tourist attractions is to be given a new lease of life -- a virtual snow surface. Ski Rossendale, Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, is to replace the old
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Bus drivers' success
DRIVERS at Blackburn Transport are celebrating after being awarded a National Vocational Qualification in Road Passenger Transport Operation. The group carried out their training Accrington and Rossendale College, which included health and safety, customer
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Cash for my discs back
A DJ has offered a cash reward for help in reuniting him with his CD collection, which was stolen when his house was broken into. Kirk Bullen, 20, was gutted when he returned from football on Wednesday evening to discover the collection, which took five
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268 new jobs for ex-mill site
MORE than 250 new jobs are on the way to Blackburn after a firm announced expansion plans. And MDA's scheme to build on the site of an old mill will also cut the risk of Mill Hill being flooded. MDA, which specialises in the storage and distribution of
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Teenager jailed for attack in club
A TEENAGER has been jailed for six months for an unprovoked nightclub attack which left his victim unconscious for 12 minutes. Blackburn magistrates watched closed circuit television footage of the attack on Craig McDonald in Never Never Land on Christmas
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Father's tribute to tragic Marvin
A FATHER paid tribute to an alleged murder victim and told mourners that the world had let him down. Single red roses were laid on the coffin of Marvin Whitehead yesterday as family and friends gathered at St Bartholomew's Church, Ewood, Blackburn. The
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Residents could face 11.7 pc tax rise
BURY residents face a huge rise in council tax of 11.7 per cent. If approved, the inflation-busting hike will be the biggest increase imposed by the council since the tax began. Bills for people living in Band A houses would rise by around £75 to £722
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Following silk trail to take in Tockholes
THIS week's postbag included a letter from 88-year-old Mrs N Rushton of St Michaels Court, Blackburn. She told me that she enjoyed Drive and Stroll because it brought back memories of walks she enjoyed in her childhood. She mentioned that her favourite
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Britain is seen as a soft touch
COUNCILLOR Paul McGurty (Letters, January 21) would appear to be confused by the word 'immigrants,' as he suggests that virtually every person in the country would be booking a flight back 'home' if they weren't 100 per cent English. My thought is that
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Rev Logan has got it all wrong
ON reading your report (LET, February 4) on the Rev Kevin Logan's book, 'Challenge of Evolution,' I see that he's got a bee in his bonnet regarding evolution. He says what he writes is to "give each side a fair hearing. I present the evidence for and
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Girl, 16, dies in tablets tragedy
A 16-YEAR-OLD girl died of a suspected paracetamol overdose after complaining of pain following an alleged assault. Mary Louise Shorrock died in St James' Hospital, Leeds, the day after she was found collapsed at her parents' home in Darwen. Police today
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Coal yard turned into urban farm
PROPOSALS to turn a part of Burnley's industrial past into a "city farm" have been welcomed by the headteacher of a nearby school. Judy Swan said the plans for the former coal yard, off Oswald Street, would be a great asset to the school. She added: "
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Drinking ban aims to ease trouble
Council 'booze zones' will be set up in spring We are keen to get the system in place and off the ground as soon as possible By CHARLOTTE BRADSHAW BURNLEY is to set up a task force to curb street drinking and to develop links with other North West authorities
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Overdose woman 'may have wanted to be found'
A 21-YEAR-OLD woman, who died from a drugs overdose days before Christmas, took it on purpose, but intended to be found, an inquest heard. Kerrie Ann-Marie Marshall had sent her partner an early hours text message saying: "Come home, I need you" but had
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Views to improve a winner
ACTION to tackle anti-social behaviour and poor housing were two of the areas which were highlighted during a public consultation in Pendle. Colne resident Chris Chambers, gave his views on how Pendle's community could be improved as part of a wide-scale
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Probe launched to end footpath woe
AN urgent inquiry has been launched after councillors gave their officers a dressing down for failing to tackle a problem-plagued footpath. Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's planning and highways committee blasted senior officers for failing
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FAMILY FLEE WAR ZONE
A FAMILY is fleeing Kuwait after being told they are in danger because of the growing threat of war with Iraq. British Embassy officials have instructed Rossendale couple Sean and Sharon McShea and their young children to be out of the country by Monday
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Homeless celebration
HOMELESS charity Nightsafe and SELF, the Youth Health Team from Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, are holding a celebration lunch on Thursday. The meal will be the culmination of a project run by Nightsafe and SELF where users were guided through
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Woman died after refusing to have arm amputated
AN ELDERLY woman died after choosing not to have an arm amputated which became infected after she sustained a compound fracture, an inquest heard. Beatrice Bland, 93, who had brittle bones, fell last October at Linden House Nursing Home, Blackburn, breaking
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House builders sorry for fault-fixing delays
A BUILDING company has apologised to customers after they suffered faults with their new £100,000 homes. Residents of Douglas Close on the Fernhurst Farm estate, Blackburn, complained about problems since moving into houses built by Fairclough Homes.
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Wish list for victims of violence
A REFUGE for domestic violence victims is to be created and bosses hope it will become a beacon project for towns across the country. Blackburn, Darwen and District Women's Aid has secured up to £250,000 in funding to build the new purpose built complex
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IT won't be long before Comic Relief, or Red Nose Day as it is known, is upon us and with it the mar
Across the UK, ordinary people will be taking part in extraordinary individual and collective acts, some bordering on lunacy but all with the same objective: raising cash for charity. Annually, millions of pounds are raised on Red Nose Day. There is widespread
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Environment cash welcome
IT is very welcome that £1million has been agreed for environmental projects in three rundown areas of Hyndburn (LET, February 13) and even more welcome that local residents will be involved. As a keen rambler, I love to go on local walks with my wife
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Tabloid stories exaggerate the problems
LOTS of cheap and nasty asylum stories have surfaced in some tabloids over the past few weeks. They exaggerate the numbers coming to Britain. Then they say Britain is the only country accepting asylum seekers. But other EU countries are in exactly the
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Town in need of a decent 'make-over'
REGARDING revitalising Darwen town centre (LET, January 21) the Market Hall is rather dull and dismal -- it's high time the temporary plastic sheets on the lantern roof were replaced with glass, as originally intended in 1880. Could the town hall clock
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Ex-convict is back behind bars after pub melee
AN ex-convict who hit another man over the head with an ashtray in a pub melee is behind bars for 15 months. Burnley Crown Court heard how trouble erupted after victim Daniel Marshall thought defendant Gavin Worthington, 30, was flirting with his girlfriend
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Thief in tug-of-war with victim at cash machine
A TEENAGE girl who withdrew money from a cashpoint machine ended up in a 'tug-of-war' over a £10 note. Although an older woman ran off with the money, the description of the culprit was so accurate that police immediately realised they were looking for
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Report call in abduction case
A JUDGE has called for psychological reports on a 34-year-old man who admitted two charges of abducting a 15-year-old girl. Recorder Robert Warnock said he wants an expert to assess if Andrew Thornton was a danger to the girl, if he was a danger to children
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Nightclub change on hold for car park scrutiny
PLANS to convert a controversial nightclub into a restaurant have been put on hold until car parking arrangements have been scrutinised. Councillors considering the application by Mohammed Ali for the venture on Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, have deferred
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Strikers pledge to carry on pay fight
WORKERS at an East Lancashire engineering company have gone back to work after a one-day strike. But the gas mains layers and resurfacers, who claim they haven't had a significant pay rise for two years, say their fight for an increased hourly rate will
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Firms help drivers 'C' through the confusion
DOZENS of East Lancashire businesses have jumped on the London congestion charge bandwagon -- and are making money as a result. Around 100 pre-payment machines are up and running in the county, giving drivers commuting to the capital the chance to pay
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Well, it's a real mystery they've found
BUILDERS have unearthed a piece of Clitheroe's heritage -- and left local historians mystified. Workmen have discovered an old well while excavating a site in Market Place for an extension to the Skipton Building Society. Builders from Langshaw's construction
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Girl, 16, dies in tablets tragedy
A 16-YEAR-OLD girl died of a suspected paracetamol overdose after complaining of pain following an alleged assault. Mary Louise Shorrock died in St James' Hospital, Leeds, the day after she was found collapsed at her parents' home in Darwen. Police today
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Burning missile thrown through window
AN arsonist threw a burning object through the window of a Blackburn boutique. Police and fire officers are trying to establish what was thrown through the window of Gossip, in James Street, at 9.40pm yesterday. The missile started a fire in the front
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Buy a 'Looking Back' tea towel
The Bolton Evening News is offering a tea towel of historic significance at the low price of just £1.95 plus 50p postage and packing. The tea towel - called 'Looking Back' - depicts four modes of transport: A Horse tram on Blackburn Road, circa 1900.
