Archive
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Date
Single review: The KBC - Pride Before The Fall (High Voltage)
Consistently ace Preston trio The KBC are back, armed with another couple of indie dancefloor classics deserving a wide audience. First there's the measured electro punk-funk of Pride Before The Fall, where James Mulholland's pleading vocals sound
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Single review: Sparks - Perfume (Gut)
Sparks' vital statistics speak for themselves - 36 years making music, 20 albums but only 3 top 10 singles. If the Mael brothers feel aggrieved at their electro trailblazing being largely overlooked, they don't show it on the chipper new single Perfume
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Single review: Humanzi - Long Time Coming (Fiction)
If you think Irish music is just fiddles, harps and acoustic guitars, Humanzi are set to pogo all over your preconceptions. The Dublin upstarts are the embodiment of indignation on their first full release, mixing sharply delivered gang choruses with
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Man cleared of hip break attack
A MAN has been cleared of pushing his partner and smashing her hip after a seven-hour session at the pub. Andrew Currie, 40, was found not guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Maureen Nugent following a two-day trial at Burnley Crown Court.
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Fall may have caused death
A man who regularly took methadone and drank alcohol died two days after being taken to hospital complaining of sickness. An inquest was told Stephen McDermott, 40, moved into the Mount Pleasant Caravan Park, Whitworth, a temporary base for homeless
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Star turn as council improves
ROSSENDALE is reaching for the stars after a check-up of council services revealed it is now making good progress. An independent report, set to be published tomorrow, says political and officer leadership is much improved and public confidence in the
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Husband hanged himself after break-up
A BURNLEY man hanged himself after taking amphetamines following the collapse of his marriage. An inquest heard Paul Hill was found hanging from the bannister at his Admiral Street home on October 25 last year. His father, Jack Hill, told the hearing
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Man is jailed for offences on girl
A 24-YEAR-OLD man who molested a little girl he had befriended was today starting a three-year jail term. Ralph Stokes had stripped naked in front of the seven-year-old, got the child to undress, had committed a sex act on her then gave her cash and
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Ring of steel...
TRAVELLING thieves are set to be stopped in their tracks after police in Rossendale placed a Ring of Steel' around the Valley. Police chiefs in Rossendale are using a variety of crime-busting measures to keep criminals out of the area. The operation,
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Warehouse raiders cut alarm line
BURGLARS cut a telephone line to disable an alarm and CCTV system to break into a Burnley warehouse, police revealed. Today police chiefs urged witnesses to come forward after raiders stole thousands of pounds worth of plasma TVs and designer clothing
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Fury at window vandals
POLICE and council leaders today slammed vandals who went on a wrecking spree in Nelson, smashing house and car windows. Officers said they received 22 reports of criminal damage over the weekend. Now extra bobbies are to be put on the beat to prevent
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Missing woman, 44, has memory problems
A WOMAN with memory problems has gone missing from her Burnley home after failing to return from a shopping trip. Police today said they were concerned for Bernadette King who has been missing for nearly two weeks. The 44-year-old of Eliza Street,
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Mum of 13 gets court out again
A JOBLESS mother of 13 said to get £25,000 a year in state handouts has made yet another appearance before magistrates. Ellen Morris, 40, is now awaiting sentence for driving while banned and uninsured. The defendant, who claimed in a Sunday newspaper
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Grim find after no rent paid on house
A MAN "who had not paid his rent" had lain dead in his Pendle house for several weeks, an inquest heard. The hearing was told Carl Turner, 36, was only discovered when workmen came to change the locks on his house in Oak Street, Colne, on February 15
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Todd is loving his Reds revival
ANDY Todd has thanked Accrington Stanley for relaunching his football career. The 26-year-old has scored two goals in the last two games since joining the Reds on loan from Burton in the January transfer window. But he admits he is just happy to have
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Heartbreak for Hawks in title race
Blackburn Hawks suffered heartbreak in their efforts to clinch a first ever ice hockey crown. Hawks came within touching distance of the elusive prize only to have the dream shattered at the very final turn. In a cruel twist of fate, Hawks lost their
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It could be out with the Old
Jack Simmons has urged Lancashire's members to look beyond their emotional attachment to Old Trafford if the club decides on a controversial move to another venue. Simmons has more reason than most to feel an attachment to the ground having made his
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Money talks and we’re not listening
I'VE been giving it some serious thought this past week and I'm not sure which is worse; becoming disillusioned about the current running of the club or being fed up of the number of supporters who have come up to me to tell me that! We are clearly stuck
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A sign of the times
BLACKBURN Rovers have insisted they're not yet thinking about summer transfer targets. A torrent of media speculation this week hs linked Rovers with a number of potential players when the next window opens at the end of the season. But with the window
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Coley: Not over yet
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman refuses to admit that the Conference title is a one-horse race. The Reds saw their lead at the top of the table reduced to 13 points following wins for Hereford and Halifax last night, after they had extended it
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Kyle urged to step up
Northern Ireland U20 striker Kyle Lafferty has been urged to take his game to the next level after returning from a loan spell at Darlington. Lafferty, 18, was recalled earlier this week as the Clarets are again down to just 16 senior professionals for
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Coyne gets back in stride
STRICKEN Burnley goalkeeper Danny Coyne this week took another great stride on the long road back to fitness. The Welsh number one is now well into his rehabilitation after being ruled out for the season following a freak cruciate knee injury sustained
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End of road for Fogarty’s team
CARL Fogarty will be heading into his final season in World Superbikes. His team's sponsorship deal with Petronas will not be renewed at the end of this year. And that means the end of the Foggy Petronas Racing team in the Championship following the
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Fred, 75, keeps on running
A pensioner is gearing up to run his 14th London Marathon at the age of 75! Fred Eastham, of Preston Old Road, Blackburn, said his entry into the 26-mile race showed that age was no barrier to physical fitness. And he said pounding the streets of East
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Credit card fraud used to pay off fine
A LUCRATIVE credit card fraud was uncovered when stolen details were used to pay off a fine at Blackburn Magistrates Court. A 22-year-old man appeared before the same court and admitted his part in the fraud, which also included hiring hotel rooms for
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Tory MP ‘back door’ DNA rap
NIGEL Evans has accused the Government and the Lancashire police of trying to build up a DNA database through the back door. He spoke after it was revealed that the county force had kept records of more than 1,000 Under 18s who had never been charged
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Thief, 28, asks court to send him to prison
A 28-YEAR-OLD man agreed with his mother that the best place for him was prison, a court was told. And Blackburn magistrates heard the hope was that a "short sharp shock" would bring David Hargreaves to his senses. Hargreaves, of Delf Close, Blackburn
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Drunken youths went ‘car walking’
DRUNKEN teenagers making their way home in Clitheroe amused themselves by going "car walking" a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard Kier James Slater caused £1,164 worth of damage to the bonnet and roof of a Renault Scenic in Farraday Avenue.
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School’s 20-year link with Germans
A BLACKBURN school is putting on a special evening to celebrate a 20- year link with a German grammar school. St Wilfrid's CE High School and Technology College is behind the birthday bash which will commemorate the exchange programme it set up 20 years
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Phone photos are in a class of their own
PUPILS at two Accrington schools are set to benefit thanks to a new "creative technology" scheme. The project will see youngsters learning to use everyday pieces of modern technology like digital cameras and camera mobile phones for artistic purposes
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Safety first for patients
LAST year this newspaper highlighted problems with hospital visitors and staff in Blackburn not cleaning their hands to stop the spread of the potentially deadly MRSA bug. Our revelations brought a swift response from hospital officials who apologised
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Heartbreak for Hawks in title race
Blackburn Hawks suffered heartbreak in their efforts to clinch a first ever ice hockey crown. Hawks came within touching distance of the elusive prize only to have the dream shattered at the very final turn. In a cruel twist of fate, Hawks lost their
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Date
Cut the excess executives now
TORIES in Blackburn with Darwen have called for a management cull to ensure a zero per cent increase in council tax bills from April. The borough's ruling Labour group has confirmed it intends to present a 3.6 per cent rise when the authority meets next
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Date
A sign of the times
BLACKBURN Rovers have insisted they're not yet thinking about summer transfer targets. A torrent of media speculation this week hs linked Rovers with a number of potential players when the next window opens at the end of the season. But with the window
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Date
Husband hanged himself after break-up
A BURNLEY man hanged himself after taking amphetamines following the collapse of his marriage. An inquest heard Paul Hill was found hanging from the bannister at his Admiral Street home on October 25 last year. His father, Jack Hill, told the hearing
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Date
Missing woman, 44, has memory problems
A WOMAN with memory problems has gone missing from her Burnley home after failing to return from a shopping trip. Police today said they were concerned for Bernadette King who has been missing for nearly two weeks. The 44-year-old of Eliza Street, visited
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Date
Fury at window vandals
POLICE and council leaders today slammed vandals who went on a wrecking spree in Nelson, smashing house and car windows. Officers said they received 22 reports of criminal damage over the weekend. Now extra bobbies are to be put on the beat to prevent
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Date
Grim find after no rent paid on house
A MAN "who had not paid his rent" had lain dead in his Pendle house for several weeks, an inquest heard. The hearing was told Carl Turner, 36, was only discovered when workmen came to change the locks on his house in Oak Street, Colne, on February 15.
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Date
Trapped chimney bird freed
A STARLING trapped in a chimney was rescued by firefighters following a delicate half-hour operation. Firefighters had to dismantle the fireplace at the home in Duke Street, Oswaldtwistle, to make enough room for the bird to escape. Watch manager Gary
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Date
Phone photos are in a class of their own
PUPILS at two Accrington schools are set to benefit thanks to a new "creative technology" scheme. The project will see youngsters learning to use everyday pieces of modern technology like digital cameras and camera mobile phones for artistic purposes.
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Date
Market traders revolt at 'service charge'
HYNDBURN Council must make savings worth almost £1million if it is to keep council tax rises below five per cent, new figures have revealed. And traders at Accrington's Market Hall have hit out at plans to recoup some of that cash by increasing charges
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runken youths went 'car walking'
DRUNKEN teenagers making their way home in Clitheroe amused themselves by going "car walking" a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard Kier James Slater caused £1,164 worth of damage to the bonnet and roof of a Renault Scenic in Farraday Avenue.
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Michael Short column: Mad ramblings of the misguided
ON THE day that Holocaust denier David Irving was jailed for three years by an Austrian court, an interesting fax arrived. Worryingly, it was addressed to me. If you thought the so-called historian's blank refusal to even acknowledge the atrocities committed
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Coyne gets back in stride
STRICKEN Burnley goalkeeper Danny Coyne this week took another great stride on the long road back to fitness. The Welsh number one is now well into his rehabilitation after being ruled out for the season following a freak cruciate knee injury sustained
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Bacup's Cairns signs off in style
Chris Cairns' New Zealand career ended in a bizarre victory with international cricket's first-ever bowl-out between the hosts and the West Indies at Auckland's Eden Park. Shane Bond hit a four off the last ball of the match to tie West Indies' score
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End of road for Fogarty's team
CARL Fogarty will be heading into his final season in World Superbikes. His team's sponsorship deal with Petronas will not be renewed at the end of this year. And that means the end of the Foggy Petronas Racing team in the Championship following the completion
-
Date
Coyne gets back in stride
STRICKEN Burnley goalkeeper Danny Coyne this week took another great stride on the long road back to fitness. The Welsh number one is now well into his rehabilitation after being ruled out for the season following a freak cruciate knee injury sustained
-
Date
Star turn as council improves
ROSSENDALE is reaching for the stars after a check-up of council services revealed it is now making good progress. An independent report, set to be published tomorrow, says political and officer leadership is much improved and public confidence in the
-
Date
Fred, 75, keeps on running
A pensioner is gearing up to run his 14th London Marathon at the age of 75! Fred Eastham, of Preston Old Road, Blackburn, said his entry into the 26-mile race showed that age was no barrier to physical fitness. And he said pounding the streets of East
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Date
Pub 'cowards' in brutal attack
A JOINER who was knocked unconscious after two thugs set upon him in a pub today branded his attackers "cowards". The 19-year-old man had one tooth knocked out and two others chipped as well as sustaining cuts and bruises following the assault in the
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Date
Ex-chief scout faces 26 sex charges
A FORMER scout leader has been charged with 26 indeceny offences involving boy scouts, dating back more than 20 years. Kenneth Alan Fawcett, an Assistant County Commissioner for the Scout Fellowship, pleaded not guilty to five charges of indecent assault
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Date
Warehouse raiders cut alarm line
BURGLARS cut a telephone line to disable an alarm and CCTV system to break into a Burnley warehouse, police revealed. Today police chiefs urged witnesses to come forward after raiders stole thousands of pounds worth of plasma TVs and designer clothing
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Date
Abbey days are here again
ONE OF East Lancashire's leading clergymen has hailed the new four-star facilities at Whalley Abbey during a tour of the medieval site yesterday. The Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard, and the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, were
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Date
Kyle urged to step up
Northern Ireland U20 striker Kyle Lafferty has been urged to take his game to the next level after returning from a loan spell at Darlington. Lafferty, 18, was recalled earlier this week as the Clarets are again down to just 16 senior professionals for
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Date
It could be out with the Old
Jack Simmons has urged Lancashire's members to look beyond their emotional attachment to Old Trafford if the club decides on a controversial move to another venue. Simmons has more reason than most to feel an attachment to the ground having made his debut
-
Date
A sign of the times
BLACKBURN Rovers have insisted they're not yet thinking about summer transfer targets. A torrent of media speculation this week hs linked Rovers with a number of potential players when the next window opens at the end of the season. But with the window
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Date
Internet firm creates 50 jobs
AN internet firm has opened an office in Chorley, creating 50 new jobs. UfindUs.com, an inter-net directory service specialising in working with small to medium businesses, employs more than 500 people in the UK. The firm's Chorley office, on Chorley
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'Pied Piper' now 'a reformed person'
A TEENAGER once nicknamed the "Pied Piper of Darwen" because he led other youngsters astray was described in court as a reformed character. Lee Taylor appeared before Blackburn magist-rates for breach of an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) but Roger
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Date
'Pitch in and help'
DARWEN Cricket Club is to undergo a complete makeover as part of plans to improve community links and encourage more youngsters to take up the sport. The club is inviting more than 100 people to take part in the refurbishment of the club and its grounds
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Date
Cut the excess executives now
TORIES in Blackburn with Darwen have called for a management cull to ensure a zero per cent increase in council tax bills from April. The borough's ruling Labour group has confirmed it intends to present a 3.6 per cent rise when the authority meets next
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Date
Fall may have caused death
A man who regularly took methadone and drank alcohol died two days after being taken to hospital complaining of sickness. An inquest was told Stephen McDermott, 40, moved into the Mount Pleasant Caravan Park, Whitworth, a temporary base for homeless people
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Date
Ring of steel...
TRAVELLING thieves are set to be stopped in their tracks after police in Rossendale placed a Ring of Steel' around the Valley. Police chiefs in Rossendale are using a variety of crime-busting measures to keep criminals out of the area. The operation,
-
Date
School's 20-year link with Germans
A BLACKBURN school is putting on a special evening to celebrate a 20- year link with a German grammar school. St Wilfrid's CE High School and Technology College is behind the birthday bash which will commemorate the exchange programme it set up 20 years
-
Date
Credit card fraud used to pay off fine
A LUCRATIVE credit card fraud was uncovered when stolen details were used to pay off a fine at Blackburn Magistrates Court. A 22-year-old man appeared before the same court and admitted his part in the fraud, which also included hiring hotel rooms for
-
Date
Thief, 28, asks court to send him to prison
A 28-YEAR-OLD man agreed with his mother that the best place for him was prison, a court was told. And Blackburn magistrates heard the hope was that a "short sharp shock" would bring David Hargreaves to his senses. Hargreaves, of Delf Close, Blackburn
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Date
Elderly warned over bogus caller
THE elderly are being targeted by a bogus workman posing as a maintenance worker for a Blackburn housing association. The man, who claims to be from Twin Valley Homes, is calling on pensioners, claiming to have been sent to make their doors safer. He
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Date
Cut the excess executives now
TORIES in Blackburn with Darwen have called for a management cull to ensure a zero per cent increase in council tax bills from April. The borough's ruling Labour group has confirmed it intends to present a 3.6 per cent rise when the authority meets next
-
Date
The Abbey times are here again
ONE OF East Lancashire's leading clergymen has hailed the new four-star facilities at Whalley Abbey during a tour of the medieval site yesterday. The Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard, and the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade,
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Date
Theatre review: Little Shop of Horrors @ Darwen Library Theatre
Darwen Library Theatre played host to everyone's favourite boy-meets-girl, plant-eats-world phenomenon last night Little Shop of Horrors. For years now the musical based on the film by Roger Corman has made audiences roll with laughter and this version
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Mums never had it so good
I WAS relaxing, thinking about how nice it was to have nothing to do and how rarely our own mums had a chance. I thought about the 1940s when most of us did not have electricity. Mums scraped their knuckles on washboards in harsh detergents and cleaned
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Parking fine was robbery
ON January 5 I parked my car on Duke Street, Blackburn, as I had done on numerous occasions. I put my 70p in the machine, put the ticket in my windscreen and went off to lunch. On my return I was horrified to discover that I had been issued with a £30
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Speed limit signs are dangerous
I HAVE been noticing some very dangerous speed instructions for quite some time now, and I feel that if they don't stop, there is going to be a pile-up on the M65. When one is driving along the M65 you come across a speed reduction to 50mph, then a
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Road tax rules are unclear
NOT so many weeks ago a grandfather was taking his granddaughter out for the day in her toy car whereupon they were stopped by a policeman who informed the grandad that the vehicle should be driven in the road and should be taxed as it was a motorised
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Revamp cash is unfairly distributed
RE the proposed Whalley Range Bazaar project "Curry idea gets spiced up" (LET, Feb 10). Are the resources available from government being distributed around Blackburn with Darwen in a fair and equitable way? I don't think so. The Whalley Range area
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Learn about computers
A 10-week computer class is to begin next month at the Huncoat Neighbourhood Project. The Thursday classes are aimed at both beginners and those wanting to improve.p> An internet cafe has also been launched at the project's Marshall Avenue base every
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Date
Pub ‘cowards’ in brutal attack
A JOINER who was knocked unconscious after two thugs set upon him in a pub today branded his attackers "cowards". The 19-year-old man had one tooth knocked out and two others chipped as well as sustaining cuts and bruises following the assault in the
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Date
Cut the excess executives now
TORIES in Blackburn with Darwen have called for a management cull to ensure a zero per cent increase in council tax bills from April. The borough's ruling Labour group has confirmed it intends to present a 3.6 per cent rise when the authority meets next
-
Date
Market traders revolt at ‘service charge’
HYNDBURN Council must make savings worth almost £1million if it is to keep council tax rises below five per cent, new figures have revealed. And traders at Accrington's Market Hall have hit out at plans to recoup some of that cash by increasing charges
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Date
‘Pitch in and help’
DARWEN Cricket Club is to undergo a complete makeover as part of plans to improve community links and encourage more youngsters to take up the sport. The club is inviting more than 100 people to take part in the refurbishment of the club and its grounds
-
Date
‘Pied Piper’ now ‘a reformed person’
A TEENAGER once nicknamed the "Pied Piper of Darwen" because he led other youngsters astray was described in court as a reformed character. Lee Taylor appeared before Blackburn magist-rates for breach of an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) but Roger
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Date
Trapped chimney bird freed
A STARLING trapped in a chimney was rescued by firefighters following a delicate half-hour operation. Firefighters had to dismantle the fireplace at the home in Duke Street, Oswaldtwistle, to make enough room for the bird to escape. Watch manager Gary
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Date
Doctor backs Rovers in £4m Dahlin claim
A MEDICAL expert insisted that former Blackburn Rovers star Martin Dahlin suffered a devastating back injury during training and any pre-existing condition did not cause his retirement. Rovers are seeking £4million from their insurers in the High Court
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Date
Elderly warned over bogus caller
THE elderly are being targeted by a bogus workman posing as a maintenance worker for a Blackburn housing association. The man, who claims to be from Twin Valley Homes, is calling on pensioners, claiming to have been sent to make their doors safer. He
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Date
Jennie's from heaven
A TEENAGER has used her "special voice" to secure an elusive scholarship at London's renowned Royal College of Music. Jennie Marsden, 17, from Pendleton, is one of only six students in the country to come through a string of tough singing auditions and
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Date
Ex-chief scout faces 26 sex charges
A FORMER scout leader has been charged with 26 indeceny offences involving boy scouts, dating back more than 20 years. Kenneth Alan Fawcett, an Assistant County Commissioner for the Scout Fellowship, pleaded not guilty to five charges of indecent assault
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Date
Dozens of operations postponed
DOZENS of operations have been cancelled or switched to other hospitals after foreign bodies' were found on a tray of surgical instruments. The discovery late on Monday forced the closure of East Lancashire Hospitals' eight operating theatres at Blackburn
