Archive
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Ribble Valley 'the country's third safest place to live'
THE Ribble Valley has been named the third safest place in the UK — but there has been sharp rise in sexual crimes in Blackburn with Darwen. Crime figures published by the Home Office showed sexual offences have increased by 39 per cent in
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Blackburn man, 39, dies after collapsing in pub
A 39-year-old man has died after collapsing at the bar in a pub in Blackburn town centre last night. Tim Matthews, a former psychiatric nurse at Royal Blackburn Hospital, suffered a suspected heart attack in the Arena Bar in Astley Gate.
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Burnley man jailed after sex with 13-year-old girl
A MAN who had sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl after plying her with drink has today been jailed for three years. Shafique Miah, 22, was convicted of sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity after a five-day
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New council leader: We'll reopen Shadsworth pool
THE NEW leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council has confirmed Shadsworth Leisure Centre is to be reopened – including the swimming pool. But Kate Hollern, whose Labour group only regained control on Tuesday after three-and-a-half years, admitted ‘unpopular
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Inspirational fighting spirit of Oswaldtwistle baby
BABY Carson’s ‘fighting spirit’ has amazed his family – now he has to make it through the winter without catching a cold for a life-saving operation. Carson Hartley wasn’t breathing when he was born and he had a heart attack at three months old. But
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Now Gisburn could be twinned with Menton
GISBURN could be twinned with the French town used to mock the Ribble Valley village in a national advertising campaign. Gisburn Parish Council are discussing the possibility with the Côte d’Azur community of Menton. The move comes after
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Blackburn workers take on triathlon
A TEAM of ten workers from a Blackburn firm, including the chief executive, are to take part in a gruelling triathlon this weekend. Andrew Graham, boss of wallpaper giants Graham and Brown, is to complete the challenge with his colleagues to raise
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Darwen councillor in exec commuter hope
AN improved railway station in Darwen could help bring more executives into the town, says a local councillor. Lib Dem Roy Davies said the £500,000 plans by Blackburn with Darwen Council in conjunction with Network rail, would attract professionals
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Controversial Haslingden pub shuts
A TROUBLED pub in Haslingden, which was being investigated by police following complaints, has shut down. Neighbourhood officers in the Greenfield ward had targeted The Crown, in Manchester Road, following a series of complaints about loud parties.
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Beard grows on Blackburn CTC stars
FOR 13 years on the trot the Blackburn and District Cyclists Touring Club have won the coveted Beard Cup with their latest success coming on the fierce one mile hill climb at Diggle near Oldham. The CTC member-restricted event has a glorious history
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Blackburn man now admits murdering friend
A MAN who denied the murder of his friend dramatically changed his plea to guilty half-way through his trial today. Frank Donnelly, 34, of Lower Hazel Close, Blackburn, is now facing a life sentence after admitting stabbing to death David McGee, 42
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Raiders threaten Darwen couple at home
THREE men, possibly brandishing guns, broke into a home and threatened householders in a raid late last night. Police said the armed robbery saw the trio confront a couple in Richmond Park, Darwen, before fleeing empty-handed. Detective Sergeant
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Homeless man from Burnley turns life around
A FORMER homeless man from Burnley who hauled himself off the streets has ‘graduated’ to a brighter future. Self-belief is the key to overcoming hardship, according to Damien Bennett, 28, who has got himself back on his feet with help from Calico’s
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Trust bosses slated over Burnley children's ward closure
HOSPITAL bosses have been accused of behaving like an ‘out-of-control juggernaut’ by pressing ahead with plans to close Burnley’s children’s ward. Coun Darren Reynolds claims the move goes against new guidelines from Health Secretary Andrew
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Coyle history adds to Burnley-Bolton grudge match
OWEN Coyle may have missed out on the action on Bolton’s only visit to Turf Moor during his time at Burnden Park, but the events of that day were enough to prove that it has not always needed the Scot to bring controversy to this particular Lancashire
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2,000 Pendle residents out of work
ALMOST 2,000 Pendle residents are out of work and claiming benefits, latest figures have revealed. The figures revealed that last month there were 1,859 unemployed claimants in the borough — 380 less than a year before and eight higher than in July
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Ali Syed remains committed in efforts to buy Blackburn Rovers
INDIAN Tycoon Ahsan Ali Syed remains determined to buy Blackburn Rovers after revealing his period of exclusivity has been extended. An official statement from WGA's PR company, said: "Western Gulf Advisory ("WGA") announces that the period
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Accrington Stanley MD: Why I won't quit
ACCRINGTON Stanley managing director Dave O’Neill has expressed concerns about proposals for a supporters’ trust to own the club – and says he will not resign unless he is certain that Ilyas Khan’s plans are in the Reds best interests. Khan
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East Lancashire independent breweries thriving
DISCERNING beer drinkers in East Lancashire have never had it so good, with new figures showing small independent breweries thriving in the area. Campaigners have said the number of micro-breweries has grown recently, with brewers offering
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Review: Dr Faustus @ Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
AS the saying goes, the old ones are the best. And at 400-year-old Doctor Faustus — the most famous of Christopher Marlowe’s works - is a fine example. Brought to life by director Toby Frow, the dark play tells of the tragic Faustus,
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Flintoff retires from cricket
Lancashire and England great Andrew Flintoff has retired from cricket after being told his body would not be able to cope with his planned comeback. The all-rounder has not played since the final Ashes Test last summer and has seen a number of return
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Review: Bouquet Of Barbed Wire, ITV1
AS he’s got older Trevor Eve appears to have developed toff’s hair. That was my first observation a couple of minutes into this new adaptation of Andrea Newman’s novel Bouquet of Barbed Wire, which was first screened in 1978. Obviously, that’s a sign
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Review: Heartbeat, ITV1
IT was a sad day in our house on Sunday. Some would say it’s always a sad day if you watch Heartbeat. This was sadder than normal though — it was the last ever episode after 18 years and so was bound to end in tragedy. Only it didn’t, as the inevitable
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Review: The Other Guys (12A)
Comedy/Action. Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Damon Wayans Jr, Rob Riggle, Samuel L Jackson, Dwayne Johnson. Director: Adam McKay. It has been almost four years since Will Ferrell starred in Stranger Than Fiction
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What's on: The Play That Killed Me in Salford
NEARLY 10 years after he started writing a play about his extraordinary grandfather, Justin MacGregor’s production of The Play That Killed Me will receive its world premiere in Salford for three dates between September 23 and October 3. Hector MacGregor
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What's on: Derrin Nauendorf & Carus Thompson in Bolton
IT’S rare to see one Australian musician in Bolton, but this week there will be two when Derrin Nauendorf and Carus Thompson appear on September 19. Derrin has practically gone native, having lived here “on and off” for eight years. “I came over
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Murder man family's law change
CAMPAIGNERS fighting for the release of a man jailed for murder have founded an organisation to challenge the law. Anthony Wood, 22, from Rawtenstall, is serving a life sentence after a jury found him guilty of planning and encouraging 19-year-old
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Lancashire MPs press Government to save defence jobs
LANCASHIRE MPs have warned ministers against cancelling major defence contracts, claiming it could have a devastating impact on manufacturing jobs. The Government was pressed in Parliament to go ahead with orders for Typhoon jets, two aircraft carriers
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Rovers star and former bad lad in bid to help Blackburn's young
A FORMER gang member and a Premier League footballer have joined forces in a bid to transform the lives of young people. Blackburn Rovers star David Dunn and his friend and business partner John Magee are to launch STREETS. It stands for Sports
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East Lancashire quartet get England call-up
Four East Lancashire fell runners have been chosen to run for England at the British and Irish Junior Home Internationals this Sunday and another two are travelling reserves. The competition for U16s and U18s is at Glendalough in Ireland and Blackburn
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New Lancashire crime squad to investigate bogus marriages
A NEW police unit set up to investigate sham marriages has identified at least 40 suspicious weddings in Accrington. Lancashire Immigration Crime Team is now working with church leaders to issue guidance to help priests spot fraudsters.
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Touch of 5K class to Accrington Road Race
SUNDAY'S Accrington 5K Road Race provided organiser Chris Barnes with something of a scoop, attracting Great Britain star Rebecca Robinson to her first race since competing in the marathon at the European Championships. The versatile Kendal
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Great Harwood Glenn in groove for hat-trick of trophies
Stock car star Glenn Lord bagged a hat-trick of trophies and points at Warton’s annual Championship Day. The Great Harwood-based driver won the Marine Services Cup in fine style, racing from the back of the pack to snatch victory from points leader
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Blackburn motor-ace Stone has a stroll on the prom
TARMAC ace John Stone strolled to victory on the Promenade Stages, dominating the Wallasey-based event in his Skoda Fabia WRC. Stone, co-driven for the first time by Matthew Whattam from York, took a convincing victory in his Legend Fires-backed machine
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Rubbish our Young People!
I had a great night this week in a packed King Georges Hall, our magnificent public halls. The event was Blackburn College’s FE (Further Education) Awards, mainly, but not exclusively, with young people following vocational courses or A levels
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Blackburn's Samba: It's a must-win against Fulham
CHRIS Samba has warned his Blackburn Rovers team mates ‘don’t waste all of our hard work’ as they look to make it a miserable Ewood Park return for Mark Hughes. The former Rovers boss brings his Fulham side to East Lancashire on Saturday, with skipper
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Blackburn couple celebrate 60 years of marriage
JOE and Carrie Woodhouse are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary today after 60 happy years. The couple, who live in Trinity Street in the Larkhill area of Blackburn, will throw a party this weekend. Mrs Woodhouse, 84, said she wouldn’
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Police discover cannabis farm during Blackburn assault arrest
POLICE who raided a house yesterday to arrest a man wanted for an assault rumbled a cannabis growing operation. A man was arrested during the raid at a semi-detached house in Snowdon Avenue, Blackburn, at about 6am. Lancashire Police officers swooped
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Appeal leads to Blackburn cousins’ reunion
WITHIN hours of an appeal from a former Blackburn lass to track down her long lost cousin appearing in Looking Back, the pair were speaking on the telephone. After the call, Anne Glendenning travelled to her home town, for the first time in more than
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Four arrests after Accrington taxi rank attack
FOUR men have been arrested for an alleged racist attack at a taxi rank in Accrington. Police said the men walked into the Max Taxis office, in Edgar Street, and became racially abusive towards two Asian staff at just after midnight on Tuesday.
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Exporting tips for East Lancashire business
Businesses can find out more about international exporting at an event run by East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce with backing from No Limits, Pennine Lancashire’s business support programme. The event is at the Chamber of Commerce offices at Red Rose
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Prince Charles commends Darwen charity organisers
DARWEN'S 1940s Day has been given a royal seal of approval. A letter from Prince Charles commending the work done by organisers has been presented to the town’s library. The event raised £4,092 to be divided between the Support Our Soldiers Christmas
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Pipes calling out to Burnley town
IN the summer of 1969, residents in the Towneley area of Burnley were serenaded by the skirl of the bagpipes drifting down from the moors above their homes. For 19-year-old male nurse Ken Wood liked nothing more than indulging his passion for
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Paramedics commended at Hyndburn tree fall man's inquest
PARAMEDICS, accused of 'not trying hard enough' to help a man who fell 50ft from a tree, were commended by the coroner. Denis Slater, 31, of Rishton, died after plunging from the top of the tree in the pine woods near Dean Reservoir, Great Harwood
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The long and the shorts of football in Blackburn
THIS is a football team who scored success 70 years ago. Their old elasticated shorts reach to their knees and their jerseys and socks are all lengths and sizes — but it was 1940 after all. These young lads won’t care, though. For after lining up
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Marching back in time with East Lancashire Scouts
DURING 100 years of the Scouting movement, thousands of young boys in East Lancashire have, at some time, been prepared to take part in its activities. They’ve camped, marched, built soap boxes, lit camp fires, tied knots and raised money in bob ‘a
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Stop pampering these thugs
I WOULD like to add comment to Mr Gorton’s letter regarding scum and violence. I agree in principle with most of what has been said. But oh, what a wonderful gutless soft-centered society we are. Our country is a disgrace within itself.
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Name and Shame all
WHAT this government needs to do is stop being a soft spot for every Tom, Dick and Harry, and make the punishment fit the crime. Bring back corporal punishment and capital punishment. Name and shame all who commit crime, no matter what their age
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Bid to rejuvenate empty Rossendale houses
A CAMPAIGN to bring empty homes in Rossendale back into use has been hailed a success by town hall bosses. In a single exercise in Haslingden, housing officials managed to bring more than 30 properties up-to-date, after sending out warning
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No way to prepare for winter in Burnley
WE only expect as rate and tax payers a proper co-ordinated plan to ensure that the travelling public of Burnley can go about their daily business. What we actually get is an ad-hoc attempt cobbled together at the 11th hour when the council’s officers
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East Lancashire's little fighters are truly amazing.
FOUR-year-old Edward Cassidy has been given a chance to live a normal life after receiving an artificial eye. The Accrington boy calls it his ‘magic eye’ and even cleans it at night when he brushes his teeth. He was diagnosed with the
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Burnley's Cork relishing trip to the Palace
JACK Cork hopes some home comforts can bring an end to Burnley’s away day blues. Middlesbrough substitute Tarmo Kink’s late midweek double extended the Clarets’ poor run on the road to just one league win in 25 games. And the on-loan Chelsea midfielder
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Lib Dems will be annihilated at the polls
I’M not a fan of coalitions. But if the results of the recent General Election had been different there might have been a Labour/Lib Dem coalition. And, in the event, there were active negotiations between our two parties, even though I for one thought
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Nelson men in Blackburn Eid street disorder
A LARGE group of young Asian men from Nelson were involved in scenes of disorder in Blackburn town centre, police have revealed. The group, described by some eye-witnesses as close to 100-strong, flooded Darwen Street during the Eid celebrations
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Ribble Valley actor swaps Coronation Street for Waterloo Road
A TEENAGE actor from Read has joined the cast of prime-time BBC1 show Waterloo Road. Lucien Laviscount, 18, who attended Ribblesdale High School Technology College, Clitheroe, has landed the role of a Year 12 pupil called Jonah Kirby in the hit programme
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Rossendale festival organiser savagely beaten
A BUSINESSMAN was savagely attacked when he stepped in to stop Chinese takeaway staff from being racially abused. The beating was so severe, Tony Sinacola was left with a shattered ankle, cracked ribs and a bruised face. Mr Sinacola,
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The other side of Menton, Gisburn's 'rival' town
THE French town used to mock a Ribble Valley village in a national advertising campaign has been given a taste of its own medicine. Renault depicted the sunshine-drenched Côte d’Azur in stark contrast to its dismal portrayal of Gisburn.
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Clampdown on speeding tractors in Colne
SPEEDING tractor drivers are proving a menace in rural villages near Colne. Police have promised extra patrols to watch out for farm vehicles in Laneshawbridge and Trawden speeding, often in the early hours of the morning. Villagers
