Archive
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It’s plane speaking at fighter factory
CONDOLEEZZA Rice swept into East Lancashire today and revealed she had no problem with the protests planned against her visit. Dr Rice arrived at British Aerospace's Samlesbury plant at around 9.30am, where she was met by local dignitaries. She was
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Boos and smiles for Condi
MORE than 300 anti-war protesters greeted American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a Blackburn school but the visit was still hailed a massive success. Boos rang out from many parents and around 150 children as Dr Rice arrived at the school with
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Charity HQ to reopen
A CHARITY for the blind is set to reopen at its home in Bank Street, Accrington, after a £90,000 refurbishment. The work, on the ground floor at the Accrington & District Blind Society, has taken seven months to complete and has seen the "unsuitable"
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Celebration of 25 years singing
More than 100 people turned out to celebrate 25 years of the Hyndburn Singers at a special performance. The event, at the Whalley Road United Reformed Church, Accrington, saw the choir perform a range of songs, including "O Who Will O'Er The Downs So
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No tittle-tattle in Jack’s book!
JACK Straw will include no broken confidences or tittle-tattle in his memoirs if he ever gets round to publishing them. The Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary came under fire from MPs on a Commons committee cross-examining him about his attempts to block
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John’s new life
A FATHER-OF-THREE who thought he was "written off" after crashing his lorry into a wall 13 years ago is to launch his own business. Former articulated lorry driver John Brierley, of Britten Street, Darwen, suffered leg, chest and head injuries in June
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Tez paralysed and blind after ‘assault’
A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been left blind and paralysed by a medical timebomb in his body after an alleged assault. Today the sister of Terence Dakin, of the Infirmary area of Blackburn, said her brother had been an inspiration in coping bravely with his
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Cricket club told it can keep its nets
A 100-year-old sports club has been allowed to carry on using its cricket nets despite complaints from residents that youths were causing a nuisance. Councillors rallied behind Ribblesdale Cricket Club, in Brownlow Street, Clitheroe, after some people
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Crackdown on terror yobs
POLICE have vowed to crack down on a gang of youths terrorising a neighbourhood in Accrington. About six youths, aged between 13 and 16, have been causing problems for residents in Lydia Street and Marsden Street, in the Spring Hill area of the town
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Condi hits town
AMERICAN Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was visiting East Lancashire today, prompting one of the largest security operations the area has ever seen. Ms Rice was escorted from Liverpool her base for her three-day tour to the area by Foreign Secretary
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Mosque leader ‘disappointed’ by demo threat
A MOSQUE leader today spoke of his "extreme disappointment" after war protesters forced a visit by Condoleezza Rice to be cancelled. Ibrahim Master said the Al-Hidayah Mosque, in Shear Brow, Blackburn, wanted to show the that mosques produced "model
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School protest at Rice visit
PARENTS and children were set to boycott Condoleezza Rice's visit to Blackburn today by forming an anti-war picket line outside Pleckgate High School. Around 50 parents yesterday demanded that headteacher Robin Campbell, withdraw the invitation for the
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Tesco death prompts safety move
BRITAIN'S biggest supermarket chain is to tighten safety guidelines following the death of a pensioner, who was struck by an unattended stock cage. Vera Longfield, 86, was shopping at Tesco's Clitheroe branch when she was knocked over after a young boy
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College team in final
BURNLEY College's student services team has been selected as one of the finalists in the Public Servants of the Year Awards. Representatives will now attend an awards ceremony to be held in London in May at the Grosvenor Park Hotel, hosted by Sir Trevor
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Satisfaction guaranteed?
ROSSENDALE businesses are being offered a free guide to help boost customer satisfaction through the use of broadband. The event, which is being held at Kingfisher Business Centre in Rawtenstall, on Wednesday, April 12, is being hosted by the Lancashire
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Health survey on lifestyles
One in 20 East Lancashire residents are to be asked about their health habits for the area's biggest lifestyle survey in 10 years. Surveys are going out to find out what health problems people suffer and the social issues they face. The survey was last
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Museum closure would have little impact on visitors
IT does amuse me to read letters from people referring to the closure of the Lewis Textile Museum in which they say it will have a major impact in people coming to Blackburn. Just how many of these people have been? The closure will have no impact as
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Thief caught red handed!
A STUPID thief who went into Argos and ran out with two car stereos was easily caught as he had given his details for a store card two days before. Burnley magistrates heard how Atif Mahmood was captured on CCTV leaving with the £369.88 haul, a staff
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Driver ‘has the lungs of a man aged 92’
A BUILDER said to have the lungs of a 92-year-old failed to give a breath test after police pulled him at the wheel of a tipper truck. Burnley magistrates heard how father of two David Edwards, 31, had been spotted driving the vehicle erratically in
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30 bags...what load of rubbish
PENDLE Council is taking to the water to teach youngsters about protecting the environment after more than 30 bags of rubbish were found on the banks of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. The rubbish was collected from the canal bank in Nelson last week as council
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Probe after ditch fell in
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched following the rescue of a man almost buried alive when a ditch he was digging collapsed around him. Officers from the Health and Safety Executive will probe the accident which left the man trapped for three hours as
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Teen may be jailed for breaking order
A TEENAGER given an attendance centre order for damage refused to go and may have sent himself to jail instead. Calvin Jameson, now 18, had not completed one hour of the 12 he was earlier given by the youth court and Burnley magistrates heard he would
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Sports boost with £4.2m centre
BURNLEY will receive a further boost to its sports facilities next week with the opening of a new £4.2m sport centre to the public. The state-of-the-art sports complex at St Theodore's Catholic Sports College and Sixth Form, Ormerod Road, will offer
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Drink driver caused m-way smash
A WOMAN who was more than twice the drink-drive limit smashed into a camper van and flipped it over in an early hours motorway smash. Burnley magistrates heard how Joanne Heseldone, 37, apparently hit the van after speeding up the slip road on to the
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Dog found
A BUSINESSMAN who offered a £10,000 reward to catch the thieves who stole his daughter's puppy said he was elated after the dog was found. Mike Sweeney's five-year-old daughter Melissa had been left devastated after the rottweiler was taken from their
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Drinker thought he was safe to drive
A JOINER who was twice caught over the drink-drive limit had just started his own business and a ban would have a drastic effect on him, magistrates heard. Shaun O'Mara, 21, had been taking friends home in the early hours when he was followed by police
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New hope of reprieve for village library
A LIBRARY earmarked for closure by Lancashire County Council may receive a last minute reprieve if talks between Pendle councillors and county officials are successful. Wheatley Lane Library, Fence, is due to close on April 29 but councillors are to
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£12,000 spent on library advice
Lancashire County Council bosses have spent £12,000 hiring consultants to give them "common sense" advice on attracting more users into libraries - just weeks after closing nine of them. Today the move was labelled "disgraceful". Bosses at County Hall
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Sparky is perfect Man for United
FORMER Rovers star Dave Whelan is tipping Mark Hughes to be the next Manchester United manager. Martin O'Neill, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello and Ottmar Hitzfeld have all been linked with the job, as well as Ferguson's past and present assistants
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Jewell in duel with Mark for top prize
I hope Mark Hughes has a pint waiting for Paul Jewell when Wigan Athletic pitch up at Ewood Park on Monday night. For while Jewell and his Latics have been portrayed as the Premiership's surprise package in many of the red tops this season, Rovers have
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Mullin eyes 20 goals for season
HOTSHOT Paul Mullin has targeted 20 goals for the third consecutive Conference season. The Accrington Stanley striker needs five goals from the last six games after his brace against York last weekend took him to 15 for the campaign so far. "I might
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Just keep going
ACCRINGTON Stanley are being urged to keep up the good work, by a man who knows how tough life can be at the top. Paul Fairclough took runaway leaders Barnet out of the Nationwide Conference in emphatic style last season. And the England National Game
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Coleman: I don’t care how we win it
BUOYANT Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has revealed he would have no qualms about winning the Conference title without even kicking a ball. It is mathematically possible if results go their way for Stanley to be crowned champions on Tuesday
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Accrington: Akash
IT is always reassuring to visit one of your favourite takeaways and to find that it is still as good as you remembered. The Akash has long been at the forefront of outstanding Indian takeaways and I spent many a happy Friday night in my youth walking
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Plateful of thrills for holiday event
ON A Plate, the respected North West House club night, has confirmed details of its Easter event. It will be taking over the Park Hall Nightclub, at Camelot theme park, near Chorley, April 16 from 10pm until 4am. Headlining will be Harry Choo Choo Romero
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Love isle Fran lures clubbers
FRAN Cosgrave tops the bill of entertainment being planned at Blackburn's newest club on April 8. The Celebrity Love Island star makes an appearance next Saturday at Liquid-Envy in St Peter Street. And while visits by celebrities to nightclubs may be
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Hallé to visit
MUSIC lovers are in for a treat when Britain's longest-established symphony orchestra, The Hall, comes to Blackburn on April 7. Conductor Joseph Swensen conducts Sibelius' Symphony No.5 in E flat, Grieg's Peer Gynt: Suite and Prokofiev's Piano Concerto
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Album review: Ben Harper - Both Sides of the Gun (Virgin)
NOT really a double album, more two albums in the same case, the impressive Ben Harper continues to delight. One CD is with a full band and shows his harder edge. The second is filled with more laid back songs but equally as good. Black Rain is
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Album review: Massive Attack - Collected (Virgin)
MASSIVE Attack have carved out their own niche in the world of hip hop and dance and this greatest hits collection is a timely reminder of their hypnotic appeal. Unfinished Sympathy is the famous track but others such as Teardrop and the new single
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Album review: Beverley Knight - Best Of (Parlophone)
THERE is no denying that Ms Knight can sing. The problem is she doesn't appear to have found the songs which show off her voice to its best advantage. This best of CD merely emphasises the point with a stunning version of Aretha Franklin's Piece of
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It’s jazz — with strings attached
THE combination of violin and guitar could be considered an unlikely mix for the purpose of jazz. However, there are exceptions to every rule - for proof, see Tim Kliphius and Gary Potter in Rawtenstall on April 4. Kliphius (violin) and Potter (guitar
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Blues is good for your soul
BLUES fans are counting down to the annual Burnley Blues Festival, which runs over the Easter Bank Holiday. We put some burning questions to Chicago Blues Harmonica Project guitarist Rick Kreher. What or who inspired you to play the blues? Being from
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Make a date with Levellers
THE Levellers have announced they are to play King George's Hall, Blackburn, on June 17. The acoustic show will see them working through their extensive back catalogue after over 17 years together. Tickets for the all-seater show in the main concert
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Come and see the Bard’s Bottom!
INTERNATIONAL Shakespearean touring company C'est Tous is calling at Blackburn on April 21 as part of a UK tour. The players, who have recently been followed by a BBC camera crew during a tour of Italy, will bring A Midsummer Night's Dream to King George's
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We’re so Brad you called in
CONDOLEEZZA Rice visited Ewood Park and did get to watch a football match after all! And she used the visit to deliver a keynote speech on foreign policy. Her tour guide, Blackburn MP Jack Straw, desperately wanted to take the US Secretary of State
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College’sbright sparks
BURNLEY College is now running electrical engineering courses for non-electricians. The college has received accreditation from the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, which will allow it to run courses for installers such as
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Youngsters’ chemistry lesson
MORE than 700 youngsters from East Lancashire's schools will be learning about science at a Chemistry At Work Secondary Roadshow' next week. The three day event, at Burnley Football Club, has been organised by Lancashire educational body Setpoint.
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Top challenge
AN ADVENTURER who has scaled Everest is looking forward to his next challenge a Borneo jungle adventure with Blackburn Rovers legend Simon Garner. And Alex Guy said that compared to altitude sickness and deep snow on the world's tallest mountain, braving
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Rovers star to face court
BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Aaron Mokoena has been charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance. The South African, aged 25, was arrested on the A59 at Samlesbury just after 10am yesterday after his car was stopped on the way to the
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Deaf youngsters at your service
DEAF youngsters have been given a boost with the opening of a cafe to help them interact with hearing people. Volunteers are being sought for the V.Fresh Cafe in King Street, Blackburn, for what organisers hope will be a major step forward for deaf people
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Pub grub for the elderly?
PUB grub and cafe food could soon be on the menu for pensioners receiving daily meals on wheels. But one landlord today said that if payments from Blackburn with Darwen Council were similar to county council costs then he would only be able to deliver
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Young musicians’ festival chance
YOUNG musicians wanting to make a name for themselves will be given the chance to perform live at this year's Darwen Live music festival. For the first time in six years of the event, there will be an under 18 stage at Darwen Community Centre, Knott
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Antique values to help charity
A DARWEN antique centre will hold a free valuation and open day tomorrow in the hope of raising cash for charity. Belgrave Antique Centre, which recently moved from premises in Bolton Road to Meadow Street, will open to customers from 9.30am to 5pm on
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Roads will be closed
TWO roads will be closed from April 17 for one week, Blackburn with Darwen Council has revealed. Wellington Road, Blackburn, will be closed from its junction with Stancliffe Street to its junction at Stansfeld Street. Suggested southbound diversion
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Drink driver was heading to AA
A Blackburn man who crashed his car as he drove to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous failed a breathalyser test, a court was told. Blackburn magistrates heard that John Hamill, 59, of Langdale Close, later admitted drinking a quarter bottle of vodka
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Funeral of Bob Lord’s widow, 98
FAMILY and friends paid their last respects to the woman behind legendary club chairman Bob Lord at her funeral yesterday. Hilda Lord, who had been widowed for 25 years, died at the age of 98, at Moorhead Residential Home in Accrington last Friday.
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Street gets a Stack of cash
RESIDENTS in Stacksteads were celebrating today after council chiefs announced run-down homes and shops in the village are to be given a facelift. The news comes after it was announced that £94.9million is to be spent throughout East Lancashire to carry
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Tenant used dead man’s card
A TENANT pinched a former houseowner's credit card after it dropped though his door and went on a month-long £6,000 spending spree. Burnley magistrates heard how newly-redundant Carl Field, 28, used the card of a man who died. His widow, who thought
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First view of new shopping centre
THIS is a first look into how £50m plans could transform Burnley's former county courthouse. Developers Henry Boot have drawn up outline plans for the scheme, which will go before councillors next month. Final stage negotiations are under way with a
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Thank you for the Lancs hospitality
AS an HGV driver, I travel the length and breadth of the country and find myself having to deliver in places that are not really suitable for my vehicle. I found myself in that position on Monday, March 20 in the Cottonfields area of Colne. A car, while
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Ultimate insult to pensioners
LET them eat cake, or let them take buses as our Chancellor is now saying to our pensioners. Jags for MPs, buses for pensioners, now that he has taxed them all out of their cars. This has to be the ultimate insult. I suppose he will be hailing an increase
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What does LibDem party stand for?
I was disappointed to see Liberal Democrat MPs attending a freedom of speech demonstration in London criticising those of us who have complained about the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. They stood there and said that the cartoons, whether you agree with
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Driver fell asleep at wheel
A DRIVER who fell asleep at the wheel demolished a sign post and then left the car in the middle of the road, a court heard. George Wray, 45, did not report the early-hours smash to police until later even though the vehicle had been left in a dangerous
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Driver had drunk about 10 pints
A DRINK driver had drunk so much alcohol he hit a parked car and did not notice, Burnley magistrates heard. Leigh Cheetham, 22, had a vacant expression on his face and his eyes were "starry" after police stopped him in Colne, in the early hours on March
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Grand railway plan for coach firm
COACH firm Fraser Eagle is to expand into train travel after becoming the major shareholder in a railway company. The firm, based in Padiham, has revealed it is now the major shareholder in Grand Central Railway Company a York-based firm which is set
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Cheer girls told to cover up tums
A CHEERLEADING coach has defended a move to ban skimpy outfits and said it would rid girls of their "bimbo" and "airhead" image. Sarah Williams, coach of Blackburn-based Cheer Valley, is giving her full support to new rules announced by the British Cheerleading
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Bishop’s date
The Archbishop of York is to re-open Whalley Abbey this summer, it has been announced. Archbishop Dr John Sentamu will take part in the service on July 22 to celebrate the completion of a £1million restoration scheme.
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Bakery burglar
A BURGLAR who took part in a raid at Oddies bakery in Padiham was found by police at the shop. Burnley magistrates heard how Mark Ellis, 30, made no reply when he was apprehended after the early hours attack on the Burnley Road premises on January 23
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Carry on nurse, It’s just an act
HOSPITAL bosses are to spend a day with actors pretending to be patients so they can learn how to be more "caring." The scheme, initially using more than £45,000 bequeathed to the NHS by former patients, was today slammed as a stupid waste of money.
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Clarets can look forward to new era
Now we've consigned the run of defeats to the history books, the time has perhaps come to look forward to another new beginning in Steve Cotterill's reign. I'm pleased he has decided to experiment with one or two things in the closing six games because
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Cott: Let’s see if Macca can hack it
WHEN Steve Cotterill draws up his battleplan for Hillsborough tomorrow, an eager teenager will lead from the front. Chris McCann has earned his manager's faith with a series of impressive displays since being fast-tracked from an apprentice to full time
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Coleman: Go for it!
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman has urged his side to march on after recovering from a minor blip on the road to promotion. The Reds had only earned two points from a possible nine ahead of last week's trip to play-off hopefuls York. After twice
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Hughes targets 65 points
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has set his players a target of 65 points in their battle to qualify for the Champions League. As the race for fourth position hots up, Hughes admits he's already had to revise his total TWICE as the teams around Rovers keep
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Season is not over yet
STEVE Cotterill today warned his Burnley players they are not in the comfort zone yet. The Clarets have virtually assured themselves of Championship football next season ahead of tomorrow's War of the Roses clash with Sheffield Wednesday. But Cotterill
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Hostel (18)
A DISUSED Slovakian factory where rich businessmen can pay to torture and kill kidnapped backpackers. Sounds like a fantastic concept for a horror film, doesn't it? But writer-director Eli Roth - just as with his debut, the flesh-eating blood fest
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Inside Man (15)
A DAMN good crime film is hard to find. For every Dog Day Afternoon there is an appalling Britflick about 'shooters' and 'blags'. So thank God for Spike Lee and his excellent new release Inside Man. It follows what happens when a gang led by Clive
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Straw defends the ‘war against terror’
JACK Straw today defended the war in Iraq and said people who believed the US shouldn't take an interest in other countries were misguided. The Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary spoke as anti-war protests marked the first day of American Secretary of
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Single review: The Victorian English Gentlemens Club – Amateur Man/Ban the Gin (Fantastic Plastic)
This fantastically misnamed Welsh trio, which is two-thirds female, may well be the best club since someone invented the double-decker sandwich. One reason for this is their art-punk wailing, high-speed drumming and off-key cacophony of guitars and
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War protest ‘greets’ Jack Straw’s special guest
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Blackburn today and told hundreds of anti-war protesters they had the right to campaign against her visit. Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw's guest toured BAe, Samlesbury, and Pleckgate
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Basic Instinct 2 (18)
TWELVE years ago Sharon Stone played bisexual novelist Catherine Tramell, who had some unusual sexual appetites ice-picks, hand-cuffs and Michael Douglas. The sequel, Basic Instinct 2, has had a troubled and extended production. There have been
