Archive
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Questions that need answering
NOT too long ago Mr Ian Woolley, who was a leading figure in the management of health care in the Blackburn area for many years, expressed public concern about the financial state of the NHS in the area. With that in mind, it is worrying that two medical
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NATURE: Book a once in a lifetime treat
ONCE in a lifetime a book on Natural History devoted to Lancashire comes along. The Wildlife Trust has produced just this and the coloured photographs are stunningly beautiful. If you would like to buy a copy and you act quickly you can even join the
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Some rules shold be consigned to the bin
A FEW years ago zealous bureaucrats were rounded up in a particularly strict south east Asian country and given hefty prison terms. Their crime was to create too much red tape. Some people might consider this to be a bit harsh. Not me though. My only
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Firm puts teen yobs back on right road
A PARTNERSHIP between United Utilities and Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute, in Warrington, is set to help troubled teens get jobs. The firm has taken on a young offender to train as a mechanic at its transport workshop in Whitebirk, Blackburn. The
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Mother bids for extra cash for books
A MOTHER hopes to get extra funding to continue a successful book club scheme. Rehana Ali began the scheme six months ago with cash from the Reading Families Millennium Award. Funding has now ended so she is asking Sure Start, a government initiative
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Do photos count as treason?
I AGREE with L Lawes of Blackburn that the perpetrators of the fake Iraqi photos should be found. The next question is -- should they, along with Piers Morgan be charged with treason, for giving assistance and comfort to the enemy in time of war? FRED
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Funds for disabled people's homes to double
DISABLED people in Burnley will receive greater financial help this year after it was announced grants will more than double. This year £1,019,000 will be available to spend on disabled facilities grants compared to £425,000 in 2003/04. The Government
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Belated ban for jailed child rapist
A SEX fiend who raped two schoolgirls - making them both pregnant - will be banned from working with children. Paul Hill, 37, was jailed for 12 years last Friday for a catalogue of abuse against the school friends, one of whom was from Darwen. The disqualification
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Worsthorne column
WATER colour classes take place in the Church Rooms every Monday, between 10am and noon. All levels of expertise, including complete beginners, are catered for. Everyone is welcome and for more information, call 01282 431595. WORSTHORNE School is holding
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Sit-in protest held over CAB closure
PROTESTERS staged a sit-in protest against the closure of a Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) in Burnley yesterday. Thirty people opposed to the closure of the Daneshouse Road centre refused to leave the building until bosses had listened to their views.
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Soccer boys aim for cooking skills
A PENDLE school football team is swapping football boots for oven gloves to prove it's in a league of its own in the kitchen. The entire under-15s team of Edge End School, Nelson, has volunteered to kick off the Cascading Cookery Club this Saturday. The
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10 years ago
PICK-AXE raiders attacked a 23-year-old man as he intervened in a violent robbery at Lower Darwen post office. He suffered a broken pelvis in the incident but was later released from Blackburn Royal Infirmary. Plans for a massive £11million re-vamp of
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Adults are all smiles at library
ASIAN people enjoyed an afternoon of laughter and poetry as part of Adult Learners' Week. Accrington and Rossendale College organised the event for more than 70 Asian community adults at Accrington library. Community liaison officer Tahir Hussain said
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Youngsters in full bloom
YOUNGSTERS at a village primary school will blossom into green-fingered gardeners this week. In what is thought to be the first project of its kind in Hyndburn, every pupil at Huncoat Primary School will be sent home with a hanging basket and a tray of
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Rob's out for Africa
A RISHTON student is to fly halfway around the world to work on a building site with a difference. Rob Wallace, 19, from Hermitage Street, will head to Uganda in June as part of a university project - to build a community centre to be used by a massive
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Actress enjoying fame as Fred Elliott's Thai bride
NOT many young actresses can count Bolton superstar comic Peter Kay among their fans. But Prestwich-based Casey Lee Jolleys is not just any young actress. She is the conwoman Stacey posing as a Thai bride to seduce butcher Fred Elliott out of his hard-earned
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Mayor's final cash gesture
A COUNCILLOR signed off his mayoralty by presenting thousands of pounds to charity. Alan Yearing's last engagement as Ribble Valley Mayor was to present £5,500 to local organisations. The money was gifted by the Ribble Valley Mayor's Charity, which raises
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600 pupils to get Streetwise
SIX hundred Ribble Valley pupils will get safety lessons at a major event next month. The Streetwise conference, backed by Ribble Valley Council and Clitheroe conservatory giant Ultraframe, will take place at the Mytton Fold Farm Hotel, Langho, from June
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'Affordable' homes plan is thrown out
A BID to build 200 "affordable" homes in the Ribble Valley using private cash has been kicked out by the Government. Ribble Valley Council had applied for permission to set up a Private Finance Initiative by bringing in a company to build the houses.
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Board meet to discuss new boss
BURNLEY'S board will meet tonight with the new manager top of the agenda. Preliminary interviews with all leading candidates have now taken place in a whirlwind few weeks since the end of the First Division season. And chairman Barry Kilby and his cohorts
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Accrington lad with three lions on his chest
THREE lions on his shirt, Richard Chaplow booked himself into the England team hotel and froze. The international set-up was a new and frankly daunting experience for a young lad from Accrington still carving out a career in the game. But the first piece
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Corrie bad girl films at Longfield centre
SCHEMING Coronation Street character Cilla Brown wreaked havoc in a Prestwich shopping centre. The soap bad girl, together with other cast and crew, spent most of the day on Sunday at the Longfield Centre, filming an exciting new storyline. Flame-haired
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Koenigm aking the job difficult
LANCASHIRE will be hoping for quick wickets this morning after enduring a tough day in the field against Middlesex. Sven Koenig led the visitors to 323 for five at the close with a career best 170 not out, after being dropped earlier in his innings by
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Dickov is the Fox in the box
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today outlined his reasons for wanting to sign Leicester City striker Paul Dickov. Souness has made the Scotland international one of his top transfer targets this summer. And the Rovers boss is adamant the hard-working forward
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Board meet to discuss new boss
BURNLEY'S board will meet tonight with the new manager top of the agenda. Preliminary interviews with all leading candidates have now taken place in a whirlwind few weeks since the end of the First Division season. And chairman Barry Kilby and his cohorts
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Lawyer's £768.000 theft charges
A FORMER solicitor is at the centre of a £768,000 fraud investigation after being charged with 17 new offences of stealing from clients. Philip Pressler, 52, of Whittlestone Head, Darwen, was previously accused of 41 offences of theft and false accounting
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Ex-boss faces jail over pub drugs discovery
THE former manager of Rawtenstall's Sun Inn is facing jail after police smashed a gang which supplied drugs from the pub toilets. Nigel Hunt, 35, of Schofield Road, Rawtenstall, was found guilty of conspiring to supply Class A drugs after a five-day trial
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It's just sheep publicity!
A BAA-rmy campaign to promote a new hotel and conference centre has left motorists counting sheep! And news of the stunt has certainly spread -- as thieves have already "rustled" one of the plastic animals involved. To passers-by on Preston New Road,
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Cash and carry ram raid
A BMW car was used in a ram raid at a cash and carry store in Blackburn. It is believed thieves tried to break down one set of wooden doors, setting off the alarm at J Stott and Sons Ltd, in Tontine Street. They then tried again on a second set of doors
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Fury over plan to shut wards
HOSPITAL bosses have been criticised over a decision to close two medical wards because of financial difficulties. The closure of medical rehabilitation wards B1 and B2 at Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn, will officially be discussed at today's Trust
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Help charity in need of ... help
A CHARITY which helps couples and families in crisis urgently needs help itself. Lancashire Relate has seen a 10 per cent rise this year in the number of clients having counselling - more than 1,100 people since January. But it desperately needs volunteer
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Hospital team on the march to glory
From the Guide files of Friday, May 25, 1979: PRESTWICH Hospital Sports and Social Club football team won the Hulme Celtic Cup after beating Simon Engineering, from Cheadle Hulme, 1-0. Since forming a few years previously, the Prestwich Hospital team
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Tonsil op goes live on web
EAST Lancashire surgeon Michael Timms, who pioneered a new technique to remove tonsils in 2000, was today to share his expertise on a live webcast. This will be the first time the operation has been shown in this way in the UK. The operation, using cold
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Firemen honoured for service
EIGHT firefighters from East Lancashire have been awarded after each clocking up 20 years of service. The Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were presented in recognition of 20 years' service of a 'consistently high standard'. Lancashire Fire and Rescue
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Broadband to expand across the rural areas
BOSSES at British Telecom met have with the Country Landowners Association (CLA) to work out how to improve broadband facilities in rural areas. The talks took place via audioconference, allowing delegates to participate without leaving their desks -
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Hospital staff reach pin-nacle
STAFF at The Beardwood Hospital have celebrated a combined 95 years of service. A dozen members of staff have received special awards including medical secretary Margaret Sims from Clayton-le-Moors who has worked 25 years at the hospital. All 12 award
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Sea cadets a real credit
I'VE just spent an evening in the company of a great group of youngsters. They were all members of Blackburn Sea Cadet Unit and were being inspected by Lt Cdr G Thompson RN, NW deputy area officer, to assess if the unit is functioning in accordance with
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Area used as a dumping ground
REGARDING E Kelly's letter (LET, May 21) about illegally parked cars on Whalley Range, Blackburn, I would like to express my opinions. I totally agree with E Kelly about the dangerous parking on Whalley Range especially with a school nearby. However,,
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Cut risk of baby deaths
WE were very sorry to hear about the tragic death of Angela and Martin Shaw's baby Hannah, which you reported (LET, May 8). This is a terrible reminder that the cot death problem is still far from being solved. With seven babies dying each week, it remains
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Firearm youth is remanded by court
A TEENAGER accused of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. Michael Brennan, 18, of Devon Street, Leigh is alleged to have possessed an air rifle at Leigh on March 31. He was further remanded on
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Lawyer's £768.000 theft charges
A FORMER solicitor is at the centre of a £768,000 fraud investigation after being charged with 17 new offences of stealing from clients. Philip Pressler, 52, of Whittlestone Head, Darwen, was previously accused of 41 offences of theft and false accounting
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Our blaze hell
A TEENAGER told today how he ran into a burning building in an attempt to rescue an elderly neighbour. Darrell Knight, 19, of Easthill Street, Barnoldswick, acted when he woke up and smelled smoke coming into his home from a neighbouring house. Darrell
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Dickov is the Fox in the box
BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today outlined his reasons for wanting to sign Leicester City striker Paul Dickov. Souness has made the Scotland international one of his top transfer targets this summer. And the Rovers boss is adamant the hard-working forward
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KEELEY: Dickov is attracting attention
I AM sure a few eyebrows were raised earlier this week when news of Graeme Souness's interest in the Leicester City striker Paul Dickov first broke in this paper. It's not so long ago that Dickov was being chastised the length and breadth of the country
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Peace gift husband ends up in court
A MAN wanting to make amends with his wife after a long drinking session was arrested for stealing flowers from a petrol station. Roger Evans, aged 43, of Beechcroft, Sedgley Park, Prestwich, admitted stealing bunches worth £21 from Hilton Park Service
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Library bids to be"Simply the best"
WHITEFIELD Library has been nominated for a "Simply the Best" award by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). Visual Impairment Librarian Anne Elton, who is based at the library in Pinfold Lane, attended the awards ceremony in London on Tuesday
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Library bids to be"Simply the best"
WHITEFIELD Library has been nominated for a "Simply the Best" award by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). Visual Impairment Librarian Anne Elton, who is based at the library in Pinfold Lane, attended the awards ceremony in London on Tuesday
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Hoax call sparks major bomb alert
DETECTIVES were today studying a recording of a hoax telephone call that sparked a bomb scare. Police were alerted by an anonymous call at about 9.30pm on Monday from a man who claimed there was a device in the phone booth he was calling from. The caller
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Diamond Seddon
BURY striker Gareth Seddon has joined Third Division rivals Rushden and Diamonds on a two-year deal. Seddon - 24 last Sunday - was Bury's top scorer last season with 11 goals, but had refused a new deal at Gigg Lane following the expiry of his contract
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Hospice £10,000 hope from raffle for Mini car
AN EAST Lancashire Hospice hopes to raise £10,000 from this year's Mini Raffle. Pendleside Hospice is one of three hospices in the area to benefit from a Mini Cooper raffle which will be drawn in August. East Lancashire Hospice and Rossendale Hospice
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Ex-student jailed in under-age row
A FORMER student who performed sex acts with a schoolgirl he had met minutes earlier has been jailed for eight months. Burnley Crown Court heard drunken Rizwan Asghar, 20, turned a blind eye to the fact the 14-year-old girl was under the legal age and
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Raging motorist terrified driver
A RAGING motorist terrorised a new driver after he claimed the teenager didn't move to let him on the motorway, a court was told. Burnley Crown Court heard how irritated Jason Hardacre, 31, pursued Martin Smith down the snow covered M65, tried to get
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Our blaze hell
A TEENAGER told today how he ran into a burning building in an attempt to rescue an elderly neighbour. Darrell Knight, 19, of Easthill Street, Barnoldswick, acted when he woke up and smelled smoke coming into his home from a neighbouring house. Darrell
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50 years ago
CLOTH made in Clitheroe was responsible for saving Edmund Hillary's Sherpa guide Tensing Norgay near the summit of Mount Everest it was claimed. The story was recalled by the chairman of the firm that made the cloth at a dinner held to celebrate the election
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25 years ago
AN East Lancashire lorry driver told of his ordeal at the hands of IRA gunmen who held up his truck. David Britcliffe, of Exchange Street, Accrington relived the terrifying experience in which he was threatened with a pistol on the border of County Down
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Teens face courts on alley attack
TWO teenagers appeared in court via a video link yesterday after a 47-year-old man was found in a pool of blood last month. The pair, aged 15 and 18, who cannot be named for legal reasons were charged with wounding after Martin Mayor was discovered in
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Time is right for a major spring clean-up
MEMBERS of Great Harwood Community Action Group and the Prospects environmental panel held a spring clean throughout the town. Hyndburn Mayor Coun Win Frankland and Rotary club member Mark Exton (right), as well as Hyndburn parks staff including Gordon
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Man, 53, drank half a litre of vodka each day
A 53-YEAR-old Baxenden man who consumed more than half a litre of vodka a day drank himself to death, an inquest heard. Blackburn coroner's court was told that Thomas Vernon Johnathan's liver was damaged and a post-mortem examination revealed a blood
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Jilted thug gets lifeor vicious beating
A SPURNED lover who attacked his ex-girlfriend's new man with a wheel brace was today starting a life sentence. Preston Crown Court was told Jason Singleton already had a wounding conviction, dating back 17 years, and his second meant he was eligible
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DOBSON: It was a promise that had to be kept
HAVE you ever found yourself making a promise and then having second thoughts? I suppose we all have. Certainly I have. It happened to me last year. Our daughter Helen ran in the Manchester 10K Run and grandchildren Laura, Daniel and Alice entered the
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Wanderers struggle to Read Law
DANNY Law's nine-wicket burst against Ribblesdale Wanderers not only kept Read flying high at the top of the Veka Ribblesdale League table, but was also the former county man's best-ever bowling return. Law revealed that he once claimed eight wickets
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Pet ban for man who killed cat
A WHITEFIELD man who killed a stray cat because he said it was "vermin" was tagged and banned from keeping animals by magistrates. Paul Hill shot the cat several times with an air gun after it had been trapped in a bedroom in his girlfriend's house and
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Charity music day to kick-start festival
A FUN day will be held in Darwen town centre on Saturday to raise money for Help The Aged. Musical events for all the family have been organised by Patricia Roscoe Smith, the Help the Aged shop manager in Darwen, to coincide with the Darwen 2004 festival
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'Jackass video in store' shock
DARWEN MP Janet Anderson was shocked to discover a video of "Jackass The Movie" on sale at check-outs in the town's Sainsbury's superstore despite a string of injuries to local youngsters imitating the TV show. Joe Armstrong, from Tunnel Street, revealed
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Night out to fund play area action
A CHARITY night will raise money for Cloughfold Recreation Action Group next month. Organisers will be hoping entertainment from the Lomax Brothers and Jimmy Divine will draw the crowds. The recreation group are hoping to transform an area of open space
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Stop drinking, 'nuisance' told
A MAN described in court as 'a nuisance' by his own lawyer has been told to tackle his drink problem. Sean Rush, 46, of Tong Lane, Bacup, had admitted using abusive and insulting words and behaviour likely to cause alarm and distress. Ian Ross-Brown,
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Join in the big day of reen events
A ROSSENDALE councillor is urging people in the Valley to join in with World Environment Day next month. Several organisations have joined together to help promote the day which is to be celebrated on June 5. Christine Lamb, a Stacksteads councillor,
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Tributes paid to former landlord
THE FORMER landlord of a popular Waterfoot pub has died unexpectedly at the age of 68. Harry Rishworth's family today paid tribute to the father and grandfather after he was discovered by his daughter at his home in Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, on Friday
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Library bids to be"Simply the best"
WHITEFIELD Library has been nominated for a "Simply the Best" award by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). Visual Impairment Librarian Anne Elton, who is based at the library in Pinfold Lane, attended the awards ceremony in London on Tuesday
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Soccer star guest at ball zone
WHITEFIELD international footballer, Trevor Sinclair will be guest of honour at the launch of a new ball zone in Prestwich. Trevor, who attended Mersey Drive Primary School as a youngster, now plays for Manchester City and England. He will officially
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Global cables firm cuts pre-tax losses
THE Blackburn-based Scapa Group cut its losses in the year to March and today assured shareholders it was well on the road to recovery. The company, which supplies technical tapes and cable compounds to firms all over the world, reported a pre-tax loss
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Old boys bursaries to aid struggling students
OLD boys at a Blackburn school are signing over a legacy to help fund bursaries for today's students. A new society will be launched today to recognise those who have written in their will to leave money to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School. And its headmaster
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Protesters urged: Make stand now
PROTESTERS have been urged to complain to the Deputy Prime Minister over plans which could see Hyndburn Council swallowed by Blackburn, and Darwen 'disappear'. The Government's Boundary Committee prompted outrage when it unveiled its options for reorganisation
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Mayor will have a civic funeral
A CIVIC funeral is to be held at Blackburn Cathedral next week for the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Coun Mike Barrett. Coun Barrett, 56, died on Monday night in Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, after a period of illness brought on by kidney problems
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Funeral director died in accident
A PROMINENT Blackburn businessman died when an auto-erotic experiment in the bedroom of his farmhouse went wrong, an inquest has heard. David Alty, 45, the head of long-established William Alty and Sons funeral directors, based in Witton, Blackburn, was
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Pupils carrying same weight as primate in bags
PUPILS in East Lancashire are walking around with a monkey on their backs because of the weight of their school bags. Some bags weigh a back-busting 5kg - the same as a male Vervet monkey - and a lack of space for lockers means children have nowhere to
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Procter back in frame
IT'S a case of third time lucky for Accrington Stanley's Andy Procter. After missing out on the England National Game XI twice, the midfielder has received a third call-up. Procter, who was voted Stanley's young player of the year, has been selected for
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Pet ban for man who killed cat
A BURY man who killed a stray cat because he said it was "vermin" was tagged and banned from keeping animals by magistrates. Paul Hill shot the cat several times with an air gun after it had been trapped in a bedroom in his girlfriend's house and then
