Archive
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Bacup church 'flat' plans thrown out
RESIDENTS have won a long-running battle against plans to convert a Rossendale church into apartments. The Church of England submitted proposals to change St Saviours Church, which closed in October 2007, into eight apartments, knock down a
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Blackburn pupils prove they've got talent
TALENTED youngsters impressed a 200 strong crowd last night with renditions of their favourite songs and dance routines for a Royal Blackburn Hospital fundraiser. St Wilfrid’s CofE High School and Technology College held its own version of
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Mongolian rally in old ambulance for Blackburn man
AN EAST Lancashire man is set to attempt a 9,000-mile rally through the Gobi Desert in an old ambulance in a bid to raise charity cash. Jonathan Hummer, 26, will take on the Mongol Rally, travelling a third of the way around the globe, with
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Blackburn betting shop customers foil knife-wielding robber
CUSTOMERS have tackled a robber who burst into a betting shop wielding a carving knife this afternoon. Police said the man had placed a bag on the counter of Bet Fred, in New Wellington Street, Blackburn, at about 5.30pm, and demanded cash
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'Poorly' woman karate-kicked on doorstep of Church home
A ‘VERY poorly’ woman was ‘karate kicked’ outside her own front door by a laughing teenage attacker. The 60-year-old woman, who has a serious illness, had just opened her front door, in Church Street, Church, to clear up chips which someone had thrown
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Lancashire County Council budget cuts meeting hit by protests
POLICE were called on at County Hall for the first time in living memory today as protesters disrupted a crucial budget meeting. Members of Lancashire County Council were voting on their budget for the next three years, which includes cuts
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£22m Clayton Triangle canalside plans ‘now on track’
THE LANDOWNER behind a £22million canalside plan says it is on track following talks with building firms. The Clayton Triangle redevelopment has now been approved by planners and is ‘extremely viable’ according to businessman Gerard Holmes. The transformation
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C-Max offers style and fun
STYLE and fun are two adjectives you wouldn't normally associate with a mini-MPV. A quick look in Wikipedia describes an MPV - Multi Purpose Vehicle - as a 'closely associated derivative of a panel van', which hardly makes you want to go out an buy
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Exciting times at Oulton Park
OULTON Park has unveiled a busy programme of seven major events for its 2011 season, including two visits from the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. The two Superbike rounds start with a party in the park over the Royal Wedding weekend,
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£15k heroin found in shoebox in Blackburn house
HEROIN worth £15,000 was seized during a police raid on a suspected drug dealer in Blackburn yesterday. Officers swooped on an address in Accrington Road at 8.15am and found the drugs, wrapped in plastic bags inside a shoebox, in an upstairs bedroom.
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Repossessions down
Latest research reinforces recent news from the Council of Mortgage Lenders that repossessions and mortgage arrears have fallen. A main reason is the continuing low levels of interest rates. A new confidence tracker survey shows that 72 per cent
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Show for all DIY-ers
THE National Homebuilding and Renovating Show returns to the NEC in Birmingham for the 19th year running on March 24 to 27. Visitors will have the chance to meet more than 450 leading self-build and renovation companies, see thousands of new products
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Rate rise 'will hit landlords'
THOUSANDS of landlords could struggle to keep up with mortgage payments once interest rates start to rise warned Landlord Assist. The tenant eviction and rent collection firm has urged them to prepare for an increase.Their concerns echo other commentators
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First timers have doubts
THE number of first time buyers intending to purchase a house this year has dropped below one in four. The findings come in the first Rightmove first-time-buyer report of 2011 and as the Government holds a summit into first-time buyer lending. It
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Two taken to hospital after Rishton crash
A MOTORIST was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after a two-car collision on a notorious bend in Rishton. The smash, close to the Shepherd’s Rest pub and The Spice Lounge Indian restaurant, in Wilpshire Road, between Rishton and Great
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Demolition crews at Brierfield school
CLASSROOM MEMORIES This is how the former Mansfield High School, which later became Marsden Heights Community College, looks today as demolition crews gradually remove the building in Elland Road, Brierfield. A replacement was opened as part of Building
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Blackburn babies sign with puppet
A GIANT puppet will be used to teach babies to speak with their hands when new baby sign language classes gets underway. Sandra Hilliard, mum of seven-month-old Joseph, is setting up her own classes and has the help of Dexter, a signing puppet, who
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Athletics What's One
* The new date for the Ovenden Fell Race, postponed due to bad weather on January 8, has been confirmed as Saturday. All the race details are unchanged from the original entry so it starts at 11.30am from Ogden Reservoir embankment, Causeway Foot, off
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Griffin gets prizes in Chepstow
Blackburn rally driver Matt Griffin was in the prizes again last weekend as, together with co-driver Joe Cruttenden from Rochdale, he finished third in the 1400L Class on the Chepstow-based Team GMF Wyedean Forest Rally. Griffin had planned to contest
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Millionaire hunters in Blackburn town centre
“MILLIONAIRE Hunters” came to Blackburn town centre to find a lucky lottery winner who is yet to claim their £1million prize. Wearing jerseys emblazoned with the winning EuroMillions Millionaire code, the pair urged lottery players to check their tickets
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Rottweiler in Nelson river drama
A LARGE rottweiler dog had to be rescued by firefighters after getting stuck in a river. The 12-month-old dog had jumped into water at Walverden Park, Brunswick Street, Nelson, just before 11pm on Tuesday. Its owners, a couple in their 30s, had only
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Man 'running' from Colne attack
A 26-YEAR-OLD man was left with cuts and grazes to his face after he was assaulted near the Union Exchange pub in Colne. The incident took place on Saturday shortly after 11pm. Police are appealing for witnesses who saw a white man in his early 20s,
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Thief's kit found in pair's van in Colne
TWO men who came to Colne tooled up to steal motorbikes had a ‘thief's kit’ in a van. The vehicle was seen by police in the early hours moving slowly with the brake lights on and off. Leigh Jackson, 28, was driving and a 17-year-old
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Blackburn Rovers Blog: Fergie should have had a Phil
BY the time Phil Jones announced his Premier League arrival with a stunning debut against champions-elect Chelsea, Alex Ferguson had already gambled £10million on another relative unknown. When the Manchester United boss snapped up a then 20-year-old
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Puppets sweep in charity cash
THE house lights went down, but the audience were still noisy and restless, until impresario Keith Rawlinson shouted for them to be quiet. Then the curtain went up on a particular Burnley show, in 1965. Thankfully, the 30 paying customers did settle
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Burnley pub doomed, but time not called for 70 years
HOW many Burnley folk remember the old pub, the Corporation Arms, which used to stand near the old market hall and open market back in the 1960s? The inn was a popular watering hole for those who had done their shopping in the market hall. Outside
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Service to re-dedicate Pals' chapel
THE Accrington Pals’ chapel at St John’s Church will be re-dedicated this weekend. The Accrington church closed in 1997 for major repairs, but has since re-opened. Now, four years on, a service befitting the memory of the Pals will take place this
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Hyndburn landlords fail in High Court bid
A GROUP of private landlords have failed in an attempt to overturn council plans to license them. Hyndburn Council’s licensing scheme was heralded last autumn as a crackdown on rogue landlords, to prevent empty properties blighting neighbourhoods.
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East Lancashire man's custody battle ‘going nowhere’
AN EAST Lancashire man says his fight to win custody of his brother through the Pakistani courts is ‘going nowhere’. Abid Ali’s father, step-mother and two young sisters were killed in a car crash in the Punjab province on New Year’s Day.
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Chorley severed fingertip find 'not suspicious'
The gruesome discovery of a severed fingertip led to police sealing off a section of Chorley town centre yesterday. A passer-by alerted officers at around noon after noticing a broken bottle surrounded by a significant amount of blood in an alleyway
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Waddington pub boss dies at age of 91
A POPULAR former hotel and pub boss has died aged 91. Florence Jackson, known as Flo, ran the Moorcock Inn, Waddington, for years with her family. It was her father, Walter, who bought a ‘two up, two down’ inn and called it the Moorcock in 1926.
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Chorley youth caught with explosives
A CHORLEY teenager caught with explosives told police he was trying to poison rats. The 15-year-old had been mixing three common household items to kill rodents, but claimed ‘accidental contamination’ made it into an explosive device. He was convicted
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Hyndburn thieves’ scrap metal van to be crushed
A VAN with tinted windows used to transport stolen scrap metal will be crushed after police seized it during an investigation. Officers stopped the yellow Ford Transit van and arrested three men on suspicion of metal theft. The 23-year-old and 25
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Burnley boss keen for Clarets to keep up their momentum
EDDIE Howe hopes Burnley can repeat their top six charge of 2009 after admitting momentum is building. The Clarets hovered outside the play-off pack until the final two months of the season the year they won promotion to the Premier League.
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Village anger as plans for 300 homes are submitted in Whalley
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 300 homes in Whalley has officially been submitted to council chiefs. Angry residents claim that the project, which also includes proposals for a primary school and care home, is “unacceptably large”. And there are
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Burnley murder trial jury visits scene of disappearance
THE jury in the case of a Burnley man accused of murdering a kidnap victim visited the scene of his disappearance yesterday. The jurors, legal teams and judge Mr Justice Royce travelled to Bacup by coach to familiarise themselves with locations
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Legal battle was waste of money
Blackburn with Darwen Council has announced cuts of £25million in public services, and blames the Conservative government. Well before the council starts apportioning blame, it should look into its own back yard. Six months ago, supported by Blackpool
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Dr Kelly is as much a victim
REGARDING the debacle of the breast-screening unit at Accrington Hospital, I think Dr Kelly is as much a victim as the women who were misdiagnosed. If he had been able to arrange his own assessments and further training, it would have been done, but
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Christian church in moral decline
WITH regard to the Rev Kevin Logan’s column on homosexuality and telling the true Gospel story as it really is, you are kicking uphill on this. Archbishop Williams has stated that if two men are in a faithful homosexual relationship with each other
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Support just isn't there
It's been claimed that 39% of incapacity claimants are fit for work. What the report doesn’t say is how many are appealing the decision and will have to survive on less than income support in the meantime. The report said 31% of claimants were
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Leading Lancashire Tory councillor rejects allowances cut
A LEADING councillor has rejected a cut in his allowances, saying: “I still have to live”. Peter Britcliffe was paid more than £43,000 last year for his roles on Hyndburn Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Fire Authority
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Life is so hectic for the Big Society
I REALLY don’t get David Cameron's ‘Big Society’ philosophy. In a Utopian society, it might just have a chance. But, as someone who is very involved in community matters, I think it’s a complete non-starter. Let me give you an example to illustrate
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Padiham woman in Sahara treck for charity
A PADIHAM woman will undertake a five-day trek across the desert of Morocco in aid of Help for Heroes. Joanne Thompson, 25, was inspired to do the Sahara walk, the equivalent of 2½ marathons, by her brother in the Army. Engineer Daniel Smith, 23
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Brewery to bring Darwen pub back to life
A BREWERY is moving lock, stock and barrel to open in an empty pub in Tockholes. The Three B’s Brewery, which was started in 1999 by former British Rail engineer Robert Bell, will breathe new life into the Black Bull in Brokenstone Road, which has
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Burnley's Edgar left in limbo over Swansea City move
DEFENDER David Edgar has been left in limbo because of a red tape ruling blocking his loan move to Swansea. It is almost three weeks since the Clarets stopper agreed to go back to South Wales until the end of the season, after spending the
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Traders stall on new leases for Blackburn Market
TWO-thirds of stalls in the new Blackburn Market have been allocated, it was announced at a crunch meeting for traders last night. But bosses revealed so far only four traders have returned a signed lease agreement as anger grows over the delayed
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Pole star Holly aims for 2012
Pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale has won her first National Championship and in the process has earned a trip to Paris as a member of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the 31st European Indoor Championships. The 19-year-old travelled to Sheffield
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What's on: Thursday, February 17
EVENTS in East Lancashire and further afield for Thursday, February 17. Pick of the day Tickets are still available for critically acclaimed comedian, Felix Dexter’s latest show Multiple Personalities In Order at Burnley Mechanics tonight
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Blackburn man jailed after driving at 128mph
A GROOM-TO-BE who led police on a 128mph chase as he raced to see his fiancee was jailed for five months and banned from driving for four years yesterday. Delivery driver Asar Khan was told he had to be jailed because ‘anything could have happened’
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Accrington mum and child escape house fire
A MOTHER and her two-year-old daughter escaped a house fire started by a discarded cigarette this morning. The woman, in her 20s, tackled the small fire in the ground floor lounge with a pan of water. Fire crews from Hyndburn were called to the
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Rishton brothers to 'fulfil mother's wish'
TWO brothers have teamed up with friends for a mammoth walking challenge in a bid to fulfil the lifelong wish of their late mother. The team, including Andrew and Fred Procter, will walk 70 miles in three days between every Lancashire League cricket
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Former mayor denies chopping down Blackburn trees
A POLICE investigation is underway after several trees were mysteriously chopped down on council-owned land. Between six and nine trees have been felled on two occasions, next to Jan’s Conference Centre, in Higher Audley Street, Blackburn. Lancashire
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Samba: Blackburn Rovers ready to end season in style
CHRIS Samba believes a refreshed Blackburn Rovers can again finish the season in style after insisting the ‘transition’ period has to come to an end. The Blackburn Rovers skipper admits the drastic changes around Ewood Park over the past
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Burnley 'fire and flood’ man jailed for three years
A PROLIFIC criminal who started a blaze above a Burnley bar and then caused a £30,000 flood trying to put it out has been jailed for three years. Burnley Crown Court heard ex-heroin addict Anthony Parkinson, 42, started the ‘raging’ fire at
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Ambulance apology in Darwen fall drama
A WOMAN who plunged 15ft from an upstairs window of her home suffered serious injuries to her back and legs. Neighbours in Brandwood Street, Darwen, ran to her aid after the fall. The ambulance service later apologised that it took more than 30
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Trees to be moved as part of £1million Burnley gateway project
GIANT redwood trees, which form part of the Forest of Burnley, are set to be moved as part of a gateaway development. Land opposite the new Burnley College and UCLan campus is set to be transformed as the new £1million Princess Way public realm
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£142,000 windfall for Clitheroe church
A CAMPAIGN to save a prominent feature of the Clitheroe skyline has received a £142,000 windfall. The 20-metre-tall spire at Clitheroe’s St Mary Magdalene CE Church needs to be completely rebuilt leading church bosses to host fundraisers and
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Extreme for riders in Rossy
The 2011 Tough One Extreme Enduro comes to Rossendale next month where the Back Cowm Quarry promises to provide the riders with the toughest of tests and the spectators with some thrilling action. The course will include much of the natural scope of
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Rose pride for three
Three Blackburn Harriers took pride of place at the Red Rose Cross Country League presentation night at Horwich. Elizabeth Greenwood, Beckie Taylor and Matt Nuttall each won all three rounds of the competition to end the winter season with maximum scores
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Colin McRae ball
The Colin McRae Rally Drivers Ball – organised by Rallying with Group B and coinciding with Race Retro 2011 on Saturday, February 26 – will be held at the Chesford Grange Hotel Leamington Spa. Anyone interest in acquiring tickets should contact Kevin
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Warmden event set for a big Bash
Red Rose Classic Motorcycle Club are holding a club trial at Warmden, Baxenden this Sunday, February 20. Entries are available on the day but anyone interested in taking part may contact Ian Wallbank on 01772 725227 for more information.
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Clitheroe duo enter Riponian
Clitheroe and District Motor Club members David Wallbank and Terry Martin, below, have put in a late entry for this weekend’s Riponian Stages. Wallbank is hoping the fuel problems that sidelined his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo5 on the recent Legend Fires
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An example we should follow
EVEN in comparatively friendly East Lancashire, too many people have little involvement with their neighbours and neighbourhoods. After work, they close the front door on those around them. There have been lots of calls for a greater team spirit
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England just avoid a Can-ing
England came close to a shock defeat against World Cup minnows Canada in their opening warm-up match. Andrew Strauss’ team began by springing a surprise, promoting Kevin Pietersen to open the batting – and ended it with much more than they bargained
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Cycling great Lance is Arm-gone
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has retired from competitive cycling for good. He once retired in 2005 but returned for the 2009 Tour.
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Stone: Toughest ever rally on IoM
Rallying on the Isle of Man can be tough and last weekend’s Chris Kelly Memorial Stages Rally was no exception. Blackburn businessman John Stone described it as the toughest event he’d ever done. “I didn’t think conditions could be worse than the previous
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Quinn in at the Dabbers
Former Blackburn striker and ex-Reading, Shrewsbury Town and Bournemouth boss Jimmy Quinn has joined Evo-Stik League Premier Division side Nantwich Town as director of football. Quinn, who scored 17 goals in 71 games for Rovers between 1984
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Darwen hit the road to Glossop
AFC Darwen’s three-times postponed Vodkat League Challenge Cup third round tie with Glossop North End will take place tonight. The clash was called off an hour before kick-off on Tuesday after heavy rain left the Anchor pitch unfit.
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The Olympic winning post is in sight
Wow! The tickets are about to go on sale, the buildings are going up – and we’ll have the added bonus of at least one local hero to follow – Laura Massaro, from Hoghton, who last week became the British Women’s Squash Champion. The Olympics 2012 will
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Stanley hope to put an end to Crown’s pitch pain
CONTRACTORS have assured Accrington Stanley that their troublesome Crown Ground pitch will be ready for Tuesday’s home game against Crewe after starting work to install temporary drains. Stanley’s match against Southend was the only game in all four
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Gazza to pay up
Former England international Paul Gascoigne promised at the High Court to pay off his debts to the taxman to avoid the threat of being made bankrupt. The one-time Burnley man owes more than £30,000.
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Place is ton-derful - but Lancashire are beaten
BLACKBURN darts star Dave Place threw 13 tons on his way to a 4-2 win over Essex ace Paul Barham – but he was unable to prevent the Red Rose Men’s A team from losing 7-5 in in the County Championship. Place was on form but Lancashire were edged out.
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Driver tries to lure Hyndburn schoolgirls into his car
POLICE have issued a warning after a man tried to lure young girls into his car on four separate occasions. They fear the man is developing a pattern and are telling people in the area to be vigilent. The victims have told of their terror
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Bravery award for Burnley student after tackling meat cleaver attacker
A BURNLEY student who tackled a man wielding a meat cleaver has received a top bravery award. Jack Hayhurst, 18, was left scarred for life after he was slashed across the face during the violent attack. Police said Jack had shown great
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Sports Blog: South Africa could be kings of the world
CRICKET'S World Cup is ready to burst into action this weekend - and this time, if the pre-tournament hints are anything to go by, it could be a cracker. The Australians were humbled by South Africa in a warm-up game this week and while you cannot read
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The Rumour Mill - February 17
Promising Manchester City Ivorian youngster Abdul Razak is waiting to discover whether he will be allowed to remain in the UK by the Home Office. Tottenham are set to beat Italian teams AC Milan, Roma and Juventus for the signature of Seville's Brazil