Archive
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Jessica Knight stabbing trial day 2: Mother of accused weeps in court
A MOTHER wept in court as she recalled the moment her son confessed to a frenzied knife attack on a 14-year-old girl. Jessica Knight was stabbed around 20 times in a park in Astley Village, Chorley, in January and was discovered bleeding by passers-by
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Dean of Blackburn hits out at 'farce' of lack of religious Christmas stamps
Blackburn Cathedral has slammed the lack of religious-themed stamps from Royal Mail this Christmas. The Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, backed Christian and Muslim colleagues, urging dissatisfied customers to take their protests
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New trees to be planted by Rivington adventure course bosses
THE bosses of a company behind a controversial tree top adventure course have agreed to plant new trees, after chopping down healthy specimens without permission. Go Ape chiefs were granted planning permission for the zip wire course at Rivington by
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Peer admits texting before crash
Muslim peer Lord Ahmed has admitted sending and receiving text messages while driving on a motorway just before he was involved in a crash in which a man died. The 51-year-old appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous
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Full-time: Burnley 2 Arsenal 0
Kevin McDonald scored twice as Burnley claimed a place in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup with a superb win over Arsene Wenger’s young Arsenal side at Turf Moor. The 20-year-old Scot scored in the sixth and 57th minutes to stun an inexperienced
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Campaigners angry over Newcastle United's Islamophobic chants
Anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out have called for stern action after Middlesbrough striker Mido was subjected to Islamophobic chants at the weekend. Egypt international Mido was targeted by Newcastle fans as he warmed up in Saturday's goalless Tyne-Tees
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Lancashire County Council warns there will be losers in massive pay review
COUNTY council bosses have admitted there will be losers from a massive pay review of its staff - which could add £17million to their wage bill. But they claim they will “learn from the mistakes” of other councils, where the job evaluation
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GOALFLASH: Burnley 2 Arsenal 0
Kevin McDonald added a second-half strike to his first-half goal as Burnley go two-up against Arsenal after 57 minutes.
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Half-time: Burnley 1 Arsenal 0
KEVIN McDonald scored his second goal in four days to give Burnley a dream start in their Carling Cup quarter-final clash against Arsenal. Chris Eagles swung in a superb cross from the right. Arsenal could not clear their lines after
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Burnley v Arsenal: Team news
There was no place for Wade Elliott as Burnley manager Owen Coyle named the same starting XI that defeated Derby on Saturday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger again relied on his youngsters for the Carling Cup quarter-final tie at Turf Moor.
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Strictly Come Dancing blog: Week eleven
DANCE teacher Graham Vernon, from Samlesbury, gives his verdict on the eleventh episode of Strictly Come Dancing. Rachel and Vincent Waltz: They did it again. Another beautiful demonstration of a simple structured Waltz with fantastic
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Sneak preview of Nelson bus station
RESIDENTS in a Pendle town are being given a sneak preview of a new state-of-the-art £4.5 million bus and rail interchange before it is officially unveiled. The development, in Nelson town centre, will be opened by the Mayor of Pendle Coun Shelagh Derwent
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Burnley v Arsenal: Big match unaffected by snow
BURNLEY'S Carling Cup game against Arsenal tonight will NOT be affected by today's snow and ice, the club confirmed. By 7pm, a Clarets spokesman confirmed that the pitch and stands are in good condition. However, fans have been warned
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Burnley v Arsenal: Akinbiyi dreams of cup repeat
ADE Akinbiyi grew up supporting Arsenal, but would love to be the man to knock them out of the Carling Cup. The Burnley striker came off the bench to equalise at Chelsea in the last round, taking the tie into extra time and a subsequent penalty shoot-out
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Blackburn MP 'surprised' at raid on MP's office
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has appeared to indicate that ministers had been "surprised" by the nature of the raids on Tory frontbencher Damian Green's homes and offices. He said: "Everybody who has been made aware of these unfolding events of course
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New council sponsorship deal for Accrington Stanley
ACCRINGTON Stanley will receive a £27,900 a season in sponsorship from the council — in return for helping youngsters. Hyndburn Borough Council is increasing its current sponsorship by £8,900 a season in exchange for more coaching and football
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Burnley v Arsenal: Clarets 'play in Gunners style'
CLARETS legend Willie Irvine has praised Owen Coyle for bringing an Arsenal-esque style of football to Turf Moor. Burnley are looking to cause another Carling Cup shockwave when they host Arsene Wenger’s young stars in tonight’s last-eight showdown
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Burglars raid Brierfield pub twice in a week
A WOMAN was assaulted by burglars after they raided a Brierfield pub for the second time in a week. Three men were searching the Snowball, in Halifax Road, at around 3am on Sunday when they were disturbed by a woman dropped off outside in a taxi. On
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Ambitious ice rink plan for dilapidated Rawtenstall shopping centre
AMBITIOUS plans to demolish a dilapidated shopping centre and build an ice rink have been announced. Bosses at the Rawtenstall Chamber of Trade said that the project could be a viable plan for the future of the controversial Valley Centre in the town
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Blackburn girl is feline wonderful at panto
THERE was pantomime magic in the air at the Thwaites Empire Theatre when a child's prize-winning drawing was brought to life. The new lilac and green character 'Peppermint the Cat' for Christmas show Dick Whittington was revealed to the young
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Burnley v Arsenal: Clarets winger wants repeat of Blackburn Rovers din
WADE Elliott has called on Burnley fans to light the bluetouch paper at Turf Moor tonight – and recreate the passion of their recent cup classic with fierce rivals Blackburn Rovers. The Clarets winger insists his side will give it “our best shot” at
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Thwaites star lights up Blackburn
THE Thwaites Christmas star is again lighting the skies above Blackburn. The brewery star marks the coming of Christmas each year – and this time the brewer asked a representative of one of Blackburn’s finest sons, Alfred Wainwright, to help them out
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Review: Coronation Street, ITV1
IS it just me or does everyone also want Coronation Street’s Steve and Becky to get it together properly. I loved Steve’s performance in court, where he lied on oath and confessed his true feelings for his secret lover. Sounds so wrong when you say
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Lancashire neighbourhood policing 'best in country'
LANCASHIRE police is celebrating after being named as the country’s top-performing force for neighbourhood policing. The constabulary was the only force in the country to be awarded the ‘exceeding the standard’ grading for the category in performance
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Ribble Valley village’s new home for bats
EXPERTS are trying to boost the bat population by creating a new home for them in a Ribble Valley village. The Forestry Commission had to fell eight rotting, mature beech and sycamore trees in Back Standing, Dunsop Bridge. By cutting
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Bishop of Blackburn slams City 'fat cats'
THE Bishop of Blackburn has slammed City ‘fat cats’, claiming that they are to blame for the financial crisis. The Rt Rev Nicholas Reade said taxpayers were ‘paying billions’ to rescue city financers. He said: “City fat cats have certainly
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Pubs are going the way of other traditions
The pub. My local. Whatever we called it, it was there – a place to meet, to chat, to see old friends, to make new friends, to argue, to debate, to let off steam, to blame the government, the council, or all the faceless ones, or maybe just to sit and
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Fears for East Lancashire's breast cancer funding
EAST Lancashire hospitals’ latest cash crisis could hit plans to make big improvements in breast cancer care. And a surgeon has called for community health chiefs to help bridge the gap to ensure a proposed £300,000 centre becomes reality.
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New Darwen Market bags on sale
NEW Darwen Market reusable bags are now available from traders in the town. The jute bags can be bought from all Darwen Market traders at a cost of £1. On one side there is a picture of the Market Hall with the slogan ‘Shop fresh, shop local, shop Darwen
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Tockholes villagers turn on heat to save money
VILLAGERS in Tockholes are looking to set up a cost-saving scheme for their oil supplies. Different suppliers are currently delivering small amounts of oil to power houses and businesses in the area. And the costs for delivery can show variations on
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'Let’s get Diana Vickers through to X Factor final'
EAST Lancashire is being urged to vote Diana Vickers to glory in the X Factor. The 17-year-old Westholme pupil, who lives in Accrington, is in the semi finals on the ITV talent contest this Saturday. If she gets enough public votes,
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I'd love to stay with Blackburn Rovers, says Simpson
DANNY Simpson admits he would relish making Ewood Park his permanent home – after insisting regular football is more important than an over-flowing trophy cabinet. The Manchester United loanee will be forced to sit out tomorrow night’s Carling
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Those who ordered MP's arrest must be called to account
A constitutional outrage and a step towards a Stasi state (or a fascist one if you prefer)? Or just a minor Westminster storm in a chattering classes teacup? Damian Green is hardly my favourite politician and it's tempting to sit back and laugh at
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Burnley v Arsenal: Coyle ready to stun Arsenal
OBSERVERS would expect a penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea to have instilled a boundless confidence within the Burnley ranks. But manager Owen Coyle insists it is overcoming adversities at the start of this season which has led them to believe
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Population fall is what’s needed
Having admitted that our new Super Hospital is “stuffed to the gills” one can only hope that their predicted drop in local population during the lifetime of the hospital is correct. Personally, of the two options on the table, I’d have gone for the
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Let down by public transport
Last week my daughter was on Work Experience in Bolton. On Tuesday she went to catch the 8.10am train from Darwen to Bolton. This was cancelled so she had to get the next train. Wednesday and Thursday was the same story. On Friday she went for the
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Don’t look at rubbish... move it!
Re your recent report on Blackburn with Darwen council's inititiative on refuse, including the inspection of the contents of bins. I would like to make known my own experience with said council and their policy on rubbish removal. About two months
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Make these young drivers belt up
Another drink drive campaign targeting the young. I am sure your readers already on a daily basis see many young drivers going around without their seatbelts on. What happens to then? Nothing from what I can see. Why do the police not target these
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Making a real difference
IT’S hard to think of anyone who would disagree with the Bishop of Blackburn when he asks how ‘fat cat’ city financiers, who have had to be bailed out by taxpayers, can continue to draw bonuses. But some might not be so happy at his highlighting that
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Fears more Lancashire jobs will go in recession
MANUFACTURING is heading for a recession as serious as the one which decimated the industry a decade ago, according to new research. Scores of Lancashire manufacturing jobs have been lost in recent months. And research for the Engineering Employers
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Accrington Stanley assistant backs Blundell for goals
ACCRINGTON Stanley assistant manager Jimmy Bell has backed striker Gregg Blundell to hit the goal trail during his festive loan spell at the Fraser Eagle Stadium. The 31-year-old made his Reds debut in the 2-1 home defeat against local rivals Bury on
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League Two strugglers eye up Blackburn Rovers veteran
ROBBIE Fowler has emerged as a shock target for League Two strugglers Grimsby Town. Mariners manager and former Blackburn Rovers striker Mike Newell is reported to have sounded out the Ewood Park veteran for a potential player/coaching role. Fowler’
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Burnley v Arsenal: Wenger boys don't scare us, says Clarets keeper
GREAT Dane Brian Jensen is determined to keep his Carling Cup dream alive tonight. The Burnley goalkeeper produced heroics in the penalty shoot-out to dump last year’s finalists Chelsea out of the competition in the fourth round. Now
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I'm A Celebrity Day 17: Nicola and David strip off
Nicola McLean and David Van Day stripped to their underwear to complete the Celebrity Chest challenge. The glamour model shocked the former Dollar singer when she shed her clothes, before he swiftly followed suit after first expressing shock at her
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I'm A Celebrity Day 17: Joe 'betrayed' by David
A stunned Joe Swash felt "betrayed" to learn David Van Day has deliberately been playing off his camp mates against one another. Glamour model Nicola McLean told the actor her former nemesis had confessed his plan to her as they tackled the
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Spectacular lights display in memory of Darwen mum
A DARWEN man is putting on a Christmas lights spectacular to raise money for the East Lancashire Hospice in memory of his mum. David Walsh, 32, of Elm Grove, Darwen, lost his mum, Ruth Walsh, 52, to cancer in October this year. But with help from his
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Christmas crime purge in East Lancashire
A CRACKDOWN on Christmas crime has been launched by police in East Lancashire. As the town centres become busier with Christmas shoppers, additional police patrols will be on duty, with officers visiting off licenses, pubs and clubs to make sure alcohol
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I'm A Celebrity Day 17: Camp in tears after receiving letters from home
All of the celebrities broke down in tears after receiving letters from home. The I'm A Celebrity... contestants were stunned to be given the personal notes and all became overwhelmed by the sentiments of the notes. First to cry was Brian Paddick
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Roque Santa Cruz's home burgled
BURGLARS have struck at Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz's home, threating his wife and two young children with knives. Roque's wife, Giselle, was forced her to hand over jewellery worth thousands of pounds at the couple's home in Bowdon,
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Chorley illusionist conjures up TV magic
A CHORLEY magician has appeared on television to showcase his skills. Sam Hurst, 24, better known as Magic Sam, took centre stage on Friday on the BBC’s Magic Party, which is billed as a showcase for the UK's hottest up-and-coming tricksters
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Darwen band’s song used in campaign against Christmas suicides
A SONG by Darwen rock band India Mill is to be used by a national charity to help prevent suicides over the Christmas period. The band’s single Caribesque will be featured in one of the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ videos in an appeal by CALM – the Campaign
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I'm A Celebrity Day 17: Simon faces his fear
Simon Webbe had to be given oxygen after doing a Bushtucker Trial. The former Blue singer was forced to face his biggest fear as he took part in Last Gasp, which saw him have to collect stars from six creature-covered bubbles under water. Before
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Drunken teen's 'idiotic rampage' in Knuzden
A DRUNKEN teenager went on what he described to police as an “idiotic rampage” causing more than £4,000 worth of damage to parked cars. Blackburn magistrates heard that Ian Eric Eccles attacked seven vehicles in the Knuzden Brook area as he made his
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I'm A Celebrity Day 17: The naked truth for Esther
Esther Rantzen missed walking around naked while she was in the jungle. The TV presenter - who showered in her swimsuit while Brian Paddick skinny-dipped next to her - said she felt she had to curb her natural exhibitionist behaviour while on I'm A
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I'm A Celebrity Day 17: Brian booted out of camp
Brian Paddick is the latest contestant to leave I'm A Celebrity... The former Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commisioner was voted off the show after finding himself in the bottom two alongside Star Trek actor George Takei. Brian promptly
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Wanted 3 warned by Lancashire Police
THREE wanted men from East Lancashire are being urged to hand themselves in to avoid spending Christmas behind bars. Lancashire Constabulary is searching for Dean Bibby, 20, whose last known address was Lynwood Road, Blackburn. He is wanted on
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Rawtenstall man 'had 11,000 indecent images of children hidden under floorboards'
A 'DANGEROUS' pervert who had 11,000 indecent images of children hidden under his floorboards had also taken taken photographs of local youngsters. Bachelor Stuart Bulling, 39, kept hundreds of DVDs featuring still images and video clips, mostly
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Snow brings traffic chaos to Lancashire
SNOW and ice caused traffic chaos throughout Lancashire this morning. Motorway traffic was reduced to a standstill while scores of schools throughout the area have been shut for the day. Highways bosses reported “severe delays” on the
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Khuram Mukhtar murder trial: 'East Lancashire lovers killed husband with butcher's knife'
A HUSBAND was stabbed to death by his wife and her lover after being lured to a Pakistan hotel room, a jury was told. Yasira Pervez, 22, and Ian Priddle, 46, “plotted to kill” Khuram Mukhtar, 21, the court heard. They were said to have
