Archive
-
Date
A useful little tree!
IN the springtime hedgerows of England there grows two small trees which bear white blossom. One is the hawthorn which is also known as the white thorn and which has a white blossom. This appears after the leaves. Hawthorn blossom appears in May. In contrast
-
Date
Pensioner's bag stolen
A 72-YEAR-OLD woman had her handbag stolen as she was doing her shopping in Asda superstore at Pilsworth Road, Pilsworth, on Sunday at about 11.20am. She had put her bag on the floor as she was picking items and then discovered it had been taken.
-
Date
Moors blaze as fears grow
A HUGE black cloud of smoke from a moorland fire forced police to close two roads as driving conditions became treacherous. At the height of the blaze, 130 firefighters from Lancashire and Greater Manchester fire and rescue services were fighting back
-
Date
Aussies fly flag in celebration
REGARDING your article (LET, April 5) on the Padiham soldier's mother wanting to have the flag flown on the town hall for our troops in Iraq. Out here people fly the flag to support anything that is Australian. Here, you can walk down the street and see
-
Date
Resurrection must be taken seriously
AND so the creation versus evolution debate rumbles on, much to my surprise (Letters, April 12), and generates rather more heat than light. Is there an objective test in reality which will decide one way or the other? Yes, there is and, surprisingly,
-
Date
'Last chance' for road chaos car thieves
TWO teenagers smashed a stolen car into six parked cars causing £13,500 of damage during a high-speed police chase, a court heard. The GMP force helicopter filmed the pursuit through the streets of Atherton and Hindley in the early hours of December 2
-
Date
RMI hope for a lift from final
LEIGH RMI boss Mark Patterson will ring the changes on Wednesday night as he hopes for a piece of silverware that could rescue RMI's season. The Railwaymen have consistently improved after Lancashire Marsden Trophy wins over Flixton and Chorley and they
-
Date
Spot of bother for the Clarets
BURNLEY failed to spoil Portsmouth's promotion party but, for the second successive game, the Clarets were left to rue the failure to be awarded a penalty. And to rub salt into their wounds, inside 60 seconds Bulgarian striker Svetoslav Todorov netted
-
Date
Road cops to join patrols
ROAD policing officers are to team up with beat bobbies to spearhead a campaign aimed at cutting crime in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. Officers from Pennine Division's road policing unit are to join geographic patrol teams in the three areas to lend
-
Date
Treat made mother's day
I AM writing to thank you, CIS, Blackburn Rovers and my wonderful children for the super Mother's Day prize I enjoyed. My family and I are all Rovers' season ticket holders and it was a fantastic treat to go to Brockhall and watch the training. C CROYDON
-
Date
Playing cupid to keep Poplars going
THE fight has begun in Lancashire to save one of the country's rarest trees -- the Black Poplar. Conservation experts from Lancashire County Council want to save the tree, which has male and female varieties. A male and female tree need to be planted
-
Date
Flagging up a real danger for Labour
IT is, we are told, guidelines circulated by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on the flying of the Union flag on public buildings that have led to Burnley Council's refusal to hoist it above the town hall in support of our troops in Iraq. Nor
-
Date
Scottish giants target winger
BLACKBURN Rovers winger Keith Gillespie could be a shock transfer target for Rangers this summer. Gers boss Alex McLeish is thought to be lining up a move for the Northern Ireland international, according to sources north of the border. The Glasgow giants
-
Date
Hero Adeel grabs store knife robber
A TEENAGE shop worker pinned a knifeman to the floor after his sister was robbed. Adeel Ahmed, 18, was working in the Sudellside Minimarket, in Sudellside Street, Darwen, and had let his sister Samia, 16, take the till for two minutes when the robber
-
Date
Centre is a growing attraction
EAST Lancashire's latest tourist attraction opened amid a flurry of activity at the weekend. The seven-acre, £4.5m Lancashire Homes and Gardens complex off the A56 at Haslingden was officially unveiled on Saturday. The project, on the former Syke Mill
-
Date
Daniel watches his own rescue!
A BOY who helped rescue his best friend after he plunged down a 35ft ravine has taken part in a TV reconstruction. Joseph St Ledger, 12, of Bottoms Row, Cowpe, raced to get help when Daniel Bennett, 13, of Kirk View, Waterfoot, tumbled down the drop.
-
Date
He ate all the pies!
SELF-confessed salad dodger Ted Sayers has been eating pies for Blackburn as he bids to be crowned the Real Bloke of England 2003. After winning a regional final, the 30-year-old is representing the town in the national final of a competition run by canned
-
Date
Plaque to honour naval hero Percy
A FIRST World War hero who became an MP will be honoured by a prestigious plaque on the front of his old home. Percy Dean, a Blackburner who was awarded the Victoria Cross after serving in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the First World War, will
-
Date
Still not safe
RAMSBOTTOM failed to secure safety in their last home game of the season. Atherton started brightly and took the lead on six minutes as Greg Bricknell played the ball into the path of McIlroy and he easily steered the ball past Marsh. Atherton deservedly
-
Date
Storks' hopes fade
PADIHAM's chances of winning promotion to the NWC First Division all but ended last night with a disappointing home defeat. Only an exceptional sequence of results between now and the end of the season would see the Storks promoted instead Stone Dominoes
-
Date
Borough on the up
BACUP Borough boss Brent Peters has promised to stage 'the party of all parties' after his club secured promotion to the North West Counties First Division last night. Padiham's 2-1 home defeat against Castleton Gabriels means that Borough are now guaranteed
-
Date
Rory keeps Stanley's run going
WITH the UniBond Premier Division title already wrapped up, Stanley could be forgiven if they had gone through the motions at Rivacre Park last night. Instead they put in a performance to show precisely why they are heading for the Conference. From the
-
Date
Bluebell: Accept no imitation
OVER the last 50 years the bluebell has had its share of problems. Firstly, the academic botanists have kept changing the name of the flower -- hopefully they will now stick to Hyacinthoides non-scripta, but you never know! If ever a plant could be regarded
-
Date
Diana award for kind school friend
AFTER months of tirelessly caring for her friend, Witton Park High School student Sameeha Mulla has been honoured by the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award. The 12-year-old was given the commemorative award for her dedication to disabled friend Habeeba
-
Date
Fashion guru runs for charity
BLACKBURN-born fashion designer Wayne Hemingway today urged people to support homeless charity Shelter after he completed the London Marathon for the cause. The 42-year-old, who established the world-renowned Red Or Dead fashion chain, took to the streets
-
Date
'Engine swap' cars may be unsafe
POLICE today issued a safety warning after reports of increased car engine "transplanting". The practice involves installing a newer and more powerful engine into an older vehicle. It could invalidate insurance and make the cars dangerous as the brakes
-
Date
Tree suggestion a good idea
I AGREE with the idea (LET, March 27) of having permanent Christmas trees in Blackburn and other areas for that matter, if it means saving council tax. Also trees are a green focal point in the town centre. It's a splendid idea and the overall saving
-
Date
Fire strike death shock
SOLDIERS called to a pensioner's smoke-logged house during a firefighters' strike did not have the equipment to smash the front door in, an inquest heard. A police officer assigned to escort army and navy teams to the home of grandfather Alan Smith, 81
-
Date
Keen for revenge over United
ALL eyes will focus on Highbury tonight where Arsenal take on Manchester United in a potential championship decider. But as far as all Blackburn fans are concerned, the real issues could be decided at Old Trafford on Saturday where Rovers will attempt
-
Date
Kitten rescue man pulled from blaze
A FIRE chief today warned people not to risk their lives for their pets after a man had to be rescued from his burning house as he tried to save his pet kitten. Steven Cragg, 34, of Hirst Street, Burnley, collapsed unconscious in the upstairs bedroom
-
Date
Crew smashed door using axe
SOLDIERS called to a pensioner's smoke-logged house during a firefighters' strike did not have the equipment to smash the front door in, an inquest heard. A police officer assigned to escort army and navy teams to the home of grandfather Alan Smith, 81
-
Date
Answer to picture puzzle
MAY I thank all the readers who took time and trouble to contact me about the 'mystery' picture of which I sought information (LET, March 20). It seems that the group in the photograph were holidaymakers on their way to Scarborough at the annual Darwen
-
Date
Five years ago
TALENTED young actors from Darwen raised £350 for their local health centre from school play ticket sales. Pupils from Ashleigh Primary performed a play called the Giant's Garden and helped provide children's play equipment for Darwen Health Centre.
-
Date
Sweet day as 'Lemons' lift Lancs Plate
BLACKBURN RUFC under 14s have clinched one of the most prestigious trophies in junior county rugby after beating West Park to win the Lancashire Plate. Blackburn, nicknamed the Lemons, romped to victory to win 31-7 at Aldwinians RUFC with a committed
-
Date
Drama on rooftop
RESIDENTS in Great Harwood witnessed a rooftop drama when a teenager climbed on to a terrace house roof to get away from police. Officers spent two hours trying to talk the 16-year-old down from the roof in St John's Street while a large crowd gathered
-
Date
Fears for rare bird nest sites
A BREEDING ground for rare birds could have been damaged in a fire which swept across 250 hectares of land in the Trough of Bowland last weekend, say nature experts. Dry conditions resulted in planned heather-burning by tenant farmers raged almost out
-
Date
Bolton & Bury mini league
U10 Section A: Hindsford Wolves 0 Bolton County Raiders 2; Hindley Jets 4 Walshaw Park Wolves 1; Horwich St Mary's Warriors 5 Oxford Grove Tigers 0. U10 Section B: Bromley Cross Aces 0 Hindley Hornets 0; CMB Assassins 6 Eagley Rangers A 2. U10 Section
-
Date
I want what he's got - Ternent
CLARETS boss Stan Ternent watched Portsmouth's Premiership promotion party at Fratton Park last night and admitted: "That is what we want." Harry Redknapp's has transformed his side from also-rans last season to potential champions this with the backing
-
Date
Tips offered on business motivation
MOTIVATIONAL speaker Steve McDermott passed on tips to East Lancashire business people during an event held at Turf Moor in Burnley. Speaking at the Business Link for East Lancashire's breakfast event, he passed on thoughts such as viewing the morning
-
Date
Council reaps benefit
A LEADING councillor has paid tribute to the work of Rossendale Council's interim housing director after she left the authority. During her time at Rossendale, Hilary Eastham helped reduced rent debts, cut the number of empty homes and ensured Bacup and
-
Date
Land grant booster
A COMMUNITY initiative aimed at improving a plot of land in Rossendale has been given a boost thanks to a £3,500 grant. The money was donated to Cloughfold Recreation Action Group by the Countryside Agency, as part of the Government's New Opportunities
-
Date
Holiday times to put out rubbish
WIGAN Council has announced details of bin collections across the borough during the Easter period. Normal refuse collection will operate until Thursday, but there will be no collection on Good Friday. Instead, it will be collected on Saturday. There
-
Date
Widow's home targeted in brick attack
A WIDOWED Ukrainian grandmother who had a brick thrown through her window has pleaded with her landlord and police to stop local youths making her life a misery. Szitlana Kovalska, 42, said the brick attack was the "final straw" in a series of anti-social
-
Date
Cameras missing the action
A REVIEW of the location of CCTV cameras is to be carried out across the borough after the number of violent and vehicle crimes rose. Blackburn with Darwen's Crime and Disorder Partnership -- made up of the local council and police -- has compiled specific
-
Date
Out of race?
CLITHEROE'S gallant push to pip Prescot for the North West Counties League title ran out of steam last night. A draw at Fleetwood means they now have to win their four remaining games and hope Prescot don't win either of the two they have left. Lee Cryer
-
Date
Heys put title tilt under threat
IRLAM MS' title hopes in the Air Miles Manchester League were dented by an in-form Prestwich Heys, who ran out 3-1 winners in an entertaining encounter at Sandgate Road. Abid Uddin collected a fine hat-trick for Heys, who continued the excellent form
-
Date
EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Thursday, April 17
A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. The Maundy Eucharist, 7.30am; The Bishops Eucharist, 11am, Blackburn Cathedral., 50/50 Ballroom Dancing with Denise and frank Kellett, Chorley Town Hall, 7.30pm. Clitheroe
-
Date
Fly tipping: van ban to blame
Six months ago we warned that the ban on vans at household waste recycling centres would lead to a surge in illicit fly-tipping -- and it has. Alarmingly so. Illegal dumping has rocketed by 60 per cent in Blackburn and Darwen alone. The council has been
-
Date
Art House work finds a home
BUDDING artists from Higher Croft, Blackburn, are exhibiting their work at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. The youngsters, part of the Art House project, were inspired to produce artwork following a trip to Manchester Art Gallery. The exhibition kicked
-
Date
Police cop top equality award
LANCASHIRE Constabulary has won a top prize in the Commission for Racial Equality's annual Race in the Media Awards. The force's police officer recruitment campaign landed the top award in the recruitment advertising section at a ceremony hosted by Jon
-
Date
Global hunt for theatre graduates
A COMING-OF-AGE celebration for a Blackburn theatre group involved a worldwide hunt to track down former members. Blackburn Youth Theatre has provided tuition for thousands of youngsters in the town for 18 years and many have gone on to tread the boards
-
Date
Applause for closed markets
IN this world, where Christianity appears to play a much diminishing part, I applaud both Blackburn and Darwen markets in forgetting profit and allowing people to dwell on that holy day, Good Friday. The fish market being open I agree with, as it is a
-
Date
Global hunt for theatre graduates
A COMING-OF-AGE celebration for a Blackburn theatre group involved a worldwide hunt to track down former members. Blackburn Youth Theatre has provided tuition for thousands of youngsters in the town for 18 years and many have gone on to tread the boards
-
Date
Proof is there for all to see
BRIAN Livesey (Letters, April 12) disagrees that we humans are fundamentally flawed. His views graced this page just after Manchester United fans rioted in Madrid. It was the day Baghdad and Basra were torn apart by looters. And on the same day the Lancashire
-
Date
Houses action, not waffle
REGARDING your report 'Hold-up in cash for homes blitz' (LET, April 14), after receiving massive publicity about their mammoth proposals for the improvement of housing conditions in East Lancashire, once again, New Labour stuffs the people. For it now
-
Date
Towpath walk a nice day out
I DON'T know why Eric Leaver (LET, April 9) finds it so amusing that the North Lancashire and Cumbria Branch of the Inland Waterways Association should walk along the canal. I would use that expression in normal speech, but I would also take the precaution
-
Date
Police will be the real losers
THE impression that Lancashire Road Safety Group is being efficient and fair minded by offering speeding drivers a speed awareness course (LET, April 3) instead of endorsement points is bogus. After 30 years' clean driving I have collected (within the
-
Date
We own him so much
OLD soldier Thomas Bywater (LET, April 4) is suffering from that modern malady -- "being British" with complications of "done his duty for king and country." If he had a foreign-sounding name and done nothing for this country he could pose as an asylum
-
Date
No way to treat a war veteran
IT was with utter disgust I read (LET, April 4) that disabled war hero Thomas Bywater, of Blackburn, has had to cancel his twice-weekly home help visits due to the dramatic increase in costs. What is this world coming to? This man along with thousands
-
Date
Old timers breed success
BURNLEY'S players witnessed at first hand Portsmouth's promotion party and there is no doubt it will have given them a taste to be in their position next season. When I covered Stockport County their last match one season was at Swindon Town, where they
-
Date
What a dump!
COMPLAINTS about rubbish dumped on roads and side streets has rocketed by 60 per cent in just one year, it was revealed today. A total of 5,000 grievances were made about dumping around Blackburn and Darwen -- and opposition councillors today blamed a
-
Date
De Boer still keen on Ewood
BARCELONA defender Frank De Boer continues to talk up his chances of a move to Ewood. Rovers boss Graeme Souness did make a tentative enquiry about the 33-year-old Dutch international recently via a third party. But as I understand it, the Rovers boss
-
Date
Scottish giants target winger
BLACKBURN Rovers winger Keith Gillespie could be a shock transfer target for Rangers this summer. Gers boss Alex McLeish is thought to be lining up a move for the Northern Ireland international, according to sources north of the border. The Glasgow giants
-
Date
Worsthorne Bulletin
WORSTHORNE Mother's Union will be sharing in the Passover meal on Maundy Thursday, prior to the celebration of the Eucharist. IN May and June Worsthorne Scouts are planning to hold a camping standards competiton and survival skills camp. The younger scouts
-
Date
Centre boss slams BNP leaflet
BURNLEY's town centre marketing manager has slammed the British National Party after he was quoted on an election leaflet. Ian Stackhouse said he was "disgusted" that his name had been used in association with the party on their promotional material for
-
Date
New Netto store to create 25 jobs
SCANDINAVIAN food giant Netto has announced plans to open a discount supermarket in Burnley. The scheme would create up to 25 local jobs as well as boosting the local economy, according to the project managers. It would be the latest in a line of discount
-
Date
Petition over flag goes to town hall
A SOLDIER'S mother who is battling to have the Union flag raised at her local town hall has presented a petition to Burnley Council. Marion Smith, of Collinge Street, Padiham, first asked for the Union Jack to be flown over Padiham Town Hall during the
-
Date
Fire strike death shock
SOLDIERS called to a pensioner's smoke-logged house during a firefighters' strike did not have the equipment to smash the front door in, an inquest heard. A police officer assigned to escort army and navy teams to the home of grandfather Alan Smith, 81
-
Date
Borley and Evans bow out
TWO of the Shakers' highly rated young players have left the club by mutual consent writes Phil Thorp Midfielder David Borley and left back Gary Evans have had their contracts terminated despite both having another 12 months to run. The decision to release
-
Date
New war on waste
THE first residents in Pendle have started using a new garden waste collection service aimed at reaching government recycling targets. Residents in Reedley, Brierfield and Little Marsden, Barrowford, Higham and Fence, Marsden and parts of Bradley in Nelson
-
Date
Listed building needs urgent repairs
DISCUSSIONS over the future of Colne's dilapidated Shackleton Hall have begun after it was revealed that at least £100,000 of urgent repairs are needed. A structural survey by architects and surveyors Bennett and Brown of Nelson found that although the
-
Date
Dickens of a good show
DICKENS'S Great Expectations is brought to the Library Theatre with a dark menace, shrieking sound and scorching lighting effects. The classic tale of Pip's progress from snivelling boy to moneyed gentleman is given a 21st century twist by the Unicorn
-
Date
Man found safe and well
A MAN who went missing from Whittingham Hospital, Preston, last week has now been found. Paul Lawrence, 50, a resident at the facility, was not seen since leaving the hospital last Friday afternoon. Police say he has turned up safe and well, but no further
-
Date
Ten years ago
LECTURER Stuart Hirst jetted away from all the concern about education reforms after being offered a dream move to paradise. Stuart, who worked at Accrington and Rossendale College, flew out with his young family to teach in the Seychelles.
-
Date
Champs hit 1,000 mark
THERE was only one way the all-conquering Blackburn Development side could finish the season -- with a crash, bang and an almighty wallop! For the newly-crowned league champions saved their best until last with a record breaking 104-0 win against Aldwinians
-
Date
PC's invite to talk over worries
COMMUNITY beat manager PC Tony Himycz is giving Hapton residents the change to quiz him about policing in the area during his first two police advice surgeries. Older members of the community will get the chance to question him first when he drops in
-
Date
Election result will be first past the post
THOUSANDS of ballot papers will hit voters' doormats this weekend as part of Hyndburn's first all-postal local election. Instead of visiting polling stations voters can now fill in the letters and either deliver them to a number of 'drop off points' or
-
Date
Banned driver caught returning faulty car
RETURNING a faulty car to a garage "round the corner" landed Simon James Lever with his 15th conviction for disqualified driving. Blackburn magistrates adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports with a warning that all options, including custody, would
-
Date
Help us shape ways to play
A COUNCIL has appealed for disabled groups and families to help them design East Lancashire's first inclusive play areas for all children. Hyndburn Council have called for the help before the start of the £180,000 work on play areas at Oakhill Park, Accrington
-
Date
Spot of bother for the Clarets
BURNLEY failed to spoil Portsmouth's promotion party but, for the second successive game, the Clarets were left to rue the failure to be awarded a penalty. And to rub salt into their wounds, inside 60 seconds Bulgarian striker Svetoslav Todorov netted
-
Date
Jimmy's philosophy should be admired
WHEN I walked into Turf Moor for the first time in 1967 it was a nerve racking experience. As a free transfer from a Second Division club, suddenly I was rubbing shoulders with a collection of internationals. But my first impressions were vivid and would
-
Date
Flintoff set for summer showdown
ANDY Flintoff believes Lancashire have a real chance of challenging Surrey for the Championship this summer - and is determined to play his part while he can. Flintoff and James Anderson have been cleared by England to play in the massive opening game
-
Date
Home help... who for?
AS public protest is ignored and councils close old folk's homes by the dozen, the 'better' way forward, we are told, is for the elderly to stay in their own homes with back-up care to help them cope and retain their independence. Yet have we not these
-
Date
Boro draw a blank
RADCLIFFE and Belper Town produced a 0-0 which does not help either team's promotion hopes. In a game of few clear cut chances Belper thought they had forced a second half breakthrough but Hilton's effort was offside. Boroughs' best chance fell to substitute
-
Date
Thief missed chance to redeem himself
A MAN who stole three terracotta pots worth £600 and sold them to a reclamation yard for just £35 was given a chance to redeem himself and the pots. A district judge sitting at Blackburn magistrates told Jason Mills that she would give him until the following
-
Date
Rovers' anti-racism goal
A BLACKBURN Rovers soccer star will kick-off a major anti-racism conference. More than 300 delegates are to descend on Ewood Park on May 1 for the conference against racism in education. NUT leaders requested a guest appearance by a Rovers player in light
-
Date
What a dump!
COMPLAINTS about rubbish dumped on roads and side streets has rocketed by 60 per cent in just one year, it was revealed today. A total of 5,000 grievances were made about dumping around Blackburn and Darwen -- and opposition councillors today blamed a
-
Date
Forster strikes hit PNE
NICKY Forster once again came back to haunt North End - the club which tried so hard to sign him - with a hat-trick which should help see Reading into the play-offs. Forster started his damage moments after Michael Jackson was sent off for his second
-
Date
Atherton Charity Cup results
Hindsford 2 AFC Hindley 1: HINDLEY, average age 16 years, fell behind when Toone scored but Hindley equalised through Carter before half time. In the second half Hindley continued to press for the winner but Hindsford went through when Critchley scored
-
Date
Hunt for bag snatch thugs
POLICE are hunting two men who attacked a pensioner in a Bury street. The 75-year-old woman was grabbed by the men -- who then snatched her handbag -- as she was walking along Bolton Road, Bury, yesterday shortly after 4pm. The two men, who are believed
-
Date
Drugs watch on park
POLICE have pledged to monitor activities at a Darwen park after residents claimed it was being used by drug dealers. The main entrance to Bold Venture Park has already been opened up to deter groups of youths from taking part in anti-social behaviour
-
Date
County court judged to be one of the best
A COURT has turned around the service it provides and won Government recognition for its efforts. Three years ago Blackburn County Court, in Victoria Street, was renowned for losing documents, taking 10 days or more to process paperwork and providing
-
Date
We'll keep last weaving mill open
BOSSES at the last weaving mill in Blackburn have said there are no plans to close it despite further job losses and falling sales. The redundancies at Hilden Manufacturing in Britannia Mill, Didsbury Street, have been blamed on falling sales orders.
-
Date
Experts study East Lancs dialect
EEE By Gum! Boffins are to mount a major new study on East Lancashire accents - because Britain's high-tech computer systems don't understand them. Automated phone services were programmed only to recognise the Queen's English and are unable to fathom
-
Date
Best finish yet
COLNE slumped to defeat in their final league game but joint manager Paul Lynch remained upbeat. "The last two results have been disappointing," he said. "We could have finished sixth but, it has been Colne's best league finish since forming in 1996."
-
Date
Preston clip Seagulls' wings
MILD-MANNERED Craig Brown found himself back in the stands after being sent off for walking on to the pitch. The manager was irate after seeing his side denied a clear-cut penalty. Preston's curse of the dodgy refs strikes again! But it was Richard Cresswell
-
Date
Leigh & district amateur football league
LATEST details Redwaters Coronation Cup Semi Final KERSAL VALE AFC...2 HOWE BRIDGE MILLS...0 Division One HIGHER FOLD LC...1 COLLIERS REST...4 Division Two HOWE BM RES...1 FIR TREE RANGERS...2 ASDA GOLBORNE...0 AFC TYLDESLEY...0 DIVISION ONE P W L D F
