Archive

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£150m schools plan voted in

PROTESTERS fighting to save a school vowed to battle on after it moved a major step nearer to closure. Blackburn with Darwen councillors last night voted in favour of a £150million transformation of secondary schools in the borough. Under the Building

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Clarets set to lose young gun Cofie

BURNLEY manager Steve Cotterill fears the club face a battle to keep teenage sensation John Cofie. The Clarets boss had hoped the 14-year-old schoolboy would eventually progress through the ranks to first team level, following in the footsteps of Chris

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Coroner delays inquest to get more witnesses

AN inquest into the death of a man who sustained fatal head injuries has been adjourned. Patrick Healey, 34, sustained the injuries at a house in Sandpiper Square, Burnley, on May 21 after a day drinking with friends. Paramedics fought to save him after

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Half Term Relief (3) - Rovers' Fun Day

Haslingden Rovers' fans will be interested in next Monday's (22nd) half term "Team Rovers Fun Day" at Ewood Park. You can watch the players train and collect autographs. Kick off is at 10.45am and there will be face painting, inflatables, competitions

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Oi ref! Someone has moved the goalposts!

SOMEONE really moved the goalposts at an amateur football match - a thief. Read United's reserve match against Colne United had to be called off after the goalposts were stolen. The 7ft-high upright posts were taken, but the 14ft-long metal crossbar

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Policeman guilty of punching teen

A POLICE officer who punched a Burnley teenager on a night out has been given a two-year conditional discharge. Police officer Darren Riley, of Bury, pleaded guilty to assaulting 17-year-old Jordan Rhodes on April 6 after leaving Lava nightclub in Burnley

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Academy battle could go to High Court

DARWEN'S new academy could be delayed again as opponents look set to take the long-running battle all the way to the High Court. The move is a blow to supporters of the scheme and will frustrate the council, which had hoped to start work immediately

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Drugs dealer loses £2,550

A man convicted of drug dealing has been ordered to forfeit £2,550 seized by police when they raided his home. Magistrates in Blackburn heard police also found heroin and crack cocaine at the home of Hasan Mumtaz in Infirmary Street. Julia Pickering

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‘Their success is positive for all’

THE stunning surroundings of Stonyhurst College can seem a million miles from the majority of East Lancashire, especially the industrial heartlands of Blackburn and Burnley, where football is the sporting religion. Despite the difference in settings,

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People urged to help combat crime

Police throughout Lancashire are inviting people to do their bit to help combat crime as part of the Not in My Neighbourhood Week. The campaign is being led by the Home Office and its crime-busting partners and runs until Sunday. Chief Insp Richard

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Jet fighter plane production begins

WORK on the latest model of the world'd most advanced jet fighter has started at BAE Systems, Samlesbury. The Carrier Variant (CV) of the F-35 Lightning II has gone into production at the defence giant's plant near Blackburn, which employs about 5,000

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Sentencing adjourned

The sentencing of Coun Arif Waghat, who has admitted benefit fraud, was adjourned at Blackburn for a pre-sentence report. Coun Waghat was told he had to attend a meeting with the Probation Service as a condition of his bail.

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Trust 'failing on MRSA target'

A HOSPITAL Trust under fire after an MRSA outbreak in its baby unit is failing to meet targets for tackling the superbug, a Government report has revealed. Some 67 patients caught MRSA in East Lancashire's hospitals in 2006/7, almost twice as many as

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Teen gangs are emo-tive issue

LARGE groups of teenage "Emos and Goths" are scaring away shoppers in Blackburn, traders have claimed. Three years ago similar groups were moved on by police after regularly gathering in Church Street on Saturday afternoons. Now the Blackburn Chamber

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Folk group's TV protest over threat to live music

A LANCASHIRE folk group is making a television appearance this Sunday speaking out about a threat to live music. Members of folk group Trouble At'Mill, a three-piece who hail from Gregson Lane, can be seen playing their new single and speaking out

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‘Brave Keith fought cancer until the end’

A CANCER patient, who successfully fought to be given a groundbreaking drug on the NHS, has died. Keith Ditchfield, of Whalley Road, Stonyhurst, died at the Royal Preston Hospital aged 53. He was the first patient to be granted the drug Nexavar on the

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Trading in its name

HYNDBURN Chamber of Trade has announced it will be re-named when the borough changes its title early next year. The group, representing shops and businesses in the area, will return to its original name of Accrington and District Chamber of Trade. The

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Ramsbottom Rake

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Ramsbottom Rake

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Ramsbottom Rake

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Rovers defender plays down training ground bust-up

Blackburn Rovers defender Andre Ooijer does not believe his omission from the Holland side against Slovenia was down to a recent training ground spat. Ooijer was in the starting line-up for last weekend's Euro qualifying loss to Romania, but on the bench

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Ramsbottom Rake

Two cyclists attempt the steep climb

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Ramsbottom Rake

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Ramsbottom Rake

Winner Jim Henderson from Southport.

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Ramsbottom Rake

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College's England rugby links

AS England bid to retain the Rugby World Cup in Paris tomorrow night, the national team's phen-omenal achievement once again has strong links to an East Lancashire college. We look at head coach Brian Ashton's links to the area and the positive impact

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Ski contest

THE British Schools Skiing Championships being held in Rossendale started yesterday. The championships is at Ski Rossendale. The final will take place on Saturday November 17, with schools from all over the country taking part in the event. The main

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Drug worker nominated for award

A BLACKBURN drug worker has been nominated for a top award for his groundbreaking work in Asian communities. Hasan Sidat, 37, initially joined the Lancashire Council of Mosques as a drug worker more than four years ago, after wanting a change from his

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Banned driver 'feared for son'

A 21-year-old disqualified driver claimed he was taking his child to hospital because he and his partner were concerned about his health. And Blackburn magistrates heard that while Daniel Paul Reid was arrested his son and his partner completed the journey

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Boy, 15, punched in face and robbed

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a boy was punched in the face and robbed in broad-daylight. Police have appealed for information about the attack, which happened on Tuesday (October 16) afternoon when the boy was walking through Nelson Town

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Rise in GCSE passes

THIS year's exam results have shown schools in Blackburn and Darwen as some of the most improved in the country. Provisional GCSE results released by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) today show that 59 per cent of pupils gained

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Firework yobs face £80 fines

YOBS who throw fireworks have been warned they will be hit with £80-on-the-spot fines. The warning comes as police launched a crackdown on under-18s illegally carrying fireworks in the build up to this year's bonfire night celebrations. Police have

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Saved as chips were down

SCHOOLCHILDREN have said a big thank you' to a town's new superstore for saving their ICT suite. PC World, which has just opened a store at Prestige Works, Burnley, stepped in to help Hapton Primary School replenish its ICT suite after 12 monitors crashed

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Five in court over Sophie's death

FIVE teenagers have appeared in court on murder charges after a woman died following an attack in a skate park. Two 15-year-olds, from Shawforth and Bacup, charged with murdering Sophie Lancaster, 20, were remanded in custody by Burnley youth court

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House prices 23 pc below average

House prices in the North West are still below the national average, according to figures released by building society Halifax. The average price of a house in the North West is currently £152,650. That is 23 per cent below the UK average of £198,898

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The Gipsy Kings

France's most successful musical outfit ever, the Gipsy Kings, are touring the UK. To celebrate, the Gipsy Kings have answered questions on their past, present and future. You come from humble beginnings and now are France's best-selling musical outfit

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College students praised for class act

MATURE students who juggle work and family life to gain higher education qualifications were applauded at Accrington and Rossendale College's awards evening. More than 130 students who gained higher level qualif-ications at the college in the last year

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Approval given to plans for steel firm to extend

ROSSENDALE firm James Killelea and Co Ltd has won approval for its expansion plans. The steel fabrication and erection company is to build an extension of its premises in Crawshawbooth on the site of a former plant hire firm. Approval was granted on

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Advice for drivers on road scheme

POLICE have issued advice to motorists over Darwen's new road system. After some confusion among shoppers, Sgt Mark Thackery-Scott said motorists could access the shops along Duckworth Street. But drivers travelling from Blackburn cannot pass through

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Market parking 'a success'

Free parking on the roof of Blackburn market will be reviewed in six months. Council chiefs say the move, a bid to boost trade in the town, has been a success. Shoppers can currently park for free before 10am and after 3pm from Monday to Friday.

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Foster gunning for Clarets

EX-CLARET Stephen Foster is preparing to do all he can to prevent Burnley getting back on the winning track. Steve Cotterill's men cross the Pennines in search of their first win in four Championship games when they take on Barnsley on Saturday. But

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Watch Rovers stars train at Ewood fun day

Blackburn Rovers are hosting a half-term Fun Day at Ewood Park on Monday October 22. At the Team Rovers Fun Day, Rovers fans will be able to watch Rovers first team squad train on the Ewood Park pitch, before having the opportunity to collect autographs

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Child porn man awaits his fate

A MAN is awaiting sentence, after admitting twice indecently assaulting a girl and downloading child porn. Gerald Charnley, 55, of Raglan Road, Burnley, said to have downloaded 102 images, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of making an indecent photo of a

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Bishop packs a lot of help

THE Bishop of Burnley helped St Cuthbert's Church, Darwen, raise £734 by bag-packing at Sainsburys in the town. The Rt Rev John Goddard popped into the store to assist parishioners and brownies in their task. Saturday's event was one of a series of

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Man ‘supplied guns in shooting’

A 21-year-old man has appeared before magistrates charged with conspiracy to murder. Ibrahim Chaudhray, of Northampton, is alleged to have supplied weapons used in a shooting in Accrington Road, Blackburn, on February 15. Chaudhray was sent in custody

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Diabetes sufferers warned over blindness

NEARLY 7,000 people in East Lancashire who are suffering from diabetes could be missing out a vital eye screening test. People with diabetes can develop retinopathy, a deterioration of the back of the eyes which can eventually lead to blindness. Campaigners

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Murder 'victim' was 'destroyed by alcohol'

ALLEGED murder victim Evelyn Lund once threatened to kill herself by overdosing on depression pills, a court heard. Barbara Bullen, a retired nursing assistant who had known Mrs Lund for more than 20 years, said that her friend had "squandered" the

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Council borrows £3.6m over equal pay claims

BLACKBURN with Darwen Council has borrowed £3.6million to ward off legal action by its staff over equal pay claims. The agreement will allow the council to settle claims by underpaid workers - averting the threat of legal action by trade unions on behalf

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Four vehicles in crash

Four vehicles were involved in a crash on the M65 yesterday. Police, fire crews and ambulances were called to the scene near junction 12 at Brierfield, heading towards Colne at 12.48pm. One person sustained suspected neck injuries and another person

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Rigters hits back at loan claims

Maceo Rigters has admitted he's been surprised by the reaction over comments he made regarding a loan move. Last week, the Dutch Under-21 star was quoted as saying if he didn't break into the first team soon, he would want a loan move away to allow him

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Net closes in on conman

POLICE say they are closing in on a man who is believed to have conned people across Lancashire. Kevin Castle, 42, is wanted by Lancashire, Manchester and Nottingham police forces in connection with a number of offences including shoplifting, identity

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Debt firms need to be efficient

A woman killed herself recently because she had received a big bill in error from a debt collector. The bill was said to be for £16,000. With bills being spewed out by modern technology at an alarming rate, such tragedies will happen. The debt collecting

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Elderly bus user’s plea for seating

CAN we please have some seating in the Darwen Cemetery bus stop? Last Sunday, with two heavy shopping bags, I had to wait half an hour for a bus so I was feeling a bit tired. I had to sit on the stone wall surrounding the outdoor market until the

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Call goes out to old shipmates

I WISH to bring to the attention of your readers of the existence of the TS Vindicatrix Association. The Vindicatrix was a training ship at Sharpness, Gloucestershire, where thousands of boys aged 15 to 17, trained for service in the British Merchant

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Our traditional market needs your support

I WRITE on behalf of the market traders of Blackburn and in response to the letter from Janet Phillips (October 11). Mrs Phillips makes points about the town centre which appear to be the generally held view of both many residents of the borough and

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High school marks a 'fabulous' year

St Christopher's High School celebrated 'a fabulous year' at its speech night last night. The Accrington school has had record GCSE results, an outstanding Ofsted report and was named as one of the top 30 schools in the country in a Sunday Times survey

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'You've plotted against me'

A STARTLED court heard murder suspect Robert Lund accuse his dead wife's family of colluding with police to get him convicted. But his allegations that a pair of glasses central to the case had been moved by the dead woman's relatives were refuted by

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The fruits of our EU membership

A short while ago an old friend of mine, who'd worked in one of the big plants in Blackburn, now long closed, came to see me to talk about the Government's pensions policy. Her concern was that state pensions should in future be up-rated in line with

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Haunting tales of hermits and highwaymen

WHAT do merciless highwayman, ghosts, a mysterious hermit and an infamous knight have in common? The answer is they all appear in a new book called Tales of Old Lancashire. Blackburn author Elizabeth Ashworth sets out ancient legends such as the sad

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Rock ’n’ roll-loving teenager tells all

DO you remember the impromptu skiffle performance in the cookery room at Woodnook Secondary Modern School, Accrington, seeing Elvis in his film Jailhouse Rock at the Prince's or the adventures of Staithes holiday camp, way back in the fifties? Well,

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Derbyshire shakes off England injury

Matt Derbyshire is expected to be available for selection after shaking off a knock he picked up playing for England's Under-21s. Derbyshire limped off midway through the second half of England's 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night

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Radio station closes due to funding problems

COMMUNIITY radio station Ribble Valley Radio has been forced to close because of funding problems. The radio station, which had been broadcasting for several years, struggled to secure enough financial support to apply for a FM licence from OFCOM. The

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Actors to butt out after smoking protest

A DRAMA group has decided to stub out plans for actors to smoke onstage for its new play which opened last night. The Oswaldtwistle Players' production of Sailor Beware, at the town's Civic Theatre, will not include smoking after the group decided to

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Many happy returns for Nelsen and Savage

ROVERS' birthday boys Ryan Nelsen and Robbie Savage have handed Mark Hughes a welcome boost ahead of the visit of Reading this weekend. Kiwi international Nelsen, who is 30 today, has been struggling with a hamstring injury he picked up in the UEFA Cup

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Health trusts given clean bill of health

EAST Lancashire NHS trusts have been given a clean bill of health by the Healthcare Commission, a new report reveals today. The health organisations were assessed in terms of quality of service (QoS) and use of resources (UoS). East Lancashire Hospitals