Archive
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East Lancashire Christmas shoppers warned not to make life easy for car gangs
CHRISTMAS shoppers are being urged to be vigilant against thieves targeting gifts left in cars during the festive season. The stark reminder has been made by Ian Pugh, managing director of Fix Auto UK who believes a lot of heartache could be avoided
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Used car prices fall in East Lancashire
AVERAGE used car prices fell in East Lancashire last month, according to new figures. The latest data from leading vehicle auction company, British Car Auctions (BCA), shows that average used car values fell in November, which is typical for this
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Seized crime cash helps out needy kids in East Lancashire
MONEY seized from criminals has been donated to a charity that helps to buy school uniforms for underprivileged children. A donation of £1,000 has been made to the charity by Lancashire Constabulary, with the cash coming from a pot of money that
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Measles vaccine reminder for East Lancashire parents
NINETY one cases of measles, including 10 locally, have been confirmed across Lancashire and Cumbria. And with just six laboratory-diagnosed incidences in the whole of 2011, health protection experts are urging parents to ensure their children
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Farmer told to rethink plans to divert Nelson footpath
A DAIRY farm has been told to rethink proposals to divert a popular public footpath through its land. There have been problems with footpaths being blocked by buildings and fences around Doughty Farm, Nelson, since 2008. Early last year, discussions
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East Lancashire people living with long-term illnesses warned to plan for winter
PEOPLE living with long-term illnesses are being urged to prepare for the winter months. It is estimated that around half the adult population in Blackburn with Darwen and around a quarter of people across East Lancashire live with at least one
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GALLERY: Olympic athlete takes part in Burnley fun run
A TOP Lancashire runner led the charge on Saturday to encourage more people to take part in a regular Burnley fun run. Up to 100 runners take part each weekend in the Park Run, over five kilometres, through Towneley Park. But on Saturday middle-distance
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Bedroom tax may hit 14,000 East Lancashire families
UP to 14,000 families across Lancashire could be hit by the Government’s controversial Bedroom Tax to the tune of £7.5million a year, it was revealed today. Social housing tenants — whose benefits will be cut if they are deemed by Whitehall to
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Burnley couple in court over death of son who was crushed by TV
A "drug-fuelled" woman killed her four-month-old son through gross negligence when she knocked a large television set on to his head as he lay on his mat below, a jury has heard. Natalie McMillan, 25, was said to be in no fit state to look after
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Drunken thugs in vicious attack in Nelson town centre
TWO thugs who chased after a man and attacked him on the street late at night are both behind bars for six months. Burnley Crown Court was told how Michael Hereford, 29, and his accomplice Ben Porter, 20, were partly caught on CCTV and were seen
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Former Rawtenstall club boss fined for playing music without a licence
THE former boss of one of Rossendale’s most popular weekend venues has been taken to court for playing music without a licence. One of the country’s top judges at London’s High Court imposed a silencing order on James Keeble, trading as Madison
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Talks in the Commons over East Lancashire to North Yorkshire rail link
RAIL campaigners seeking to unite East Lancashire and North Yorkshire have secured talks with a government minister. Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has brokered discussions between SELRAP (Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership) and rail
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Firefighters urge people not to tackle blazes in their own homes after incident in Burnley
FIREFIGHTERS are urging residents not to tackle fires in their homes unless they know proper techniques. It comes as a woman had to be treated for smoke inhalation after she tried to put out a toaster fire with a damp cloth and pillow. The
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Comment: Unfair to hit so many with bedroom tax
THE Government has been accused by opponents of targeting the most vulnerable in society when making cuts. And the news that a new ‘bedroom tax’ on people living in social housing is to be introduced is a further blow to the poorest people in society
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Letter: Professionals know better
I assume the fear that new houses might cause flooding is based on much firmer evidence than builders’ and architects’ evidence that it won’t. Or is this another case of ‘I think there is a problem so you must acknowledge there is one’, with no
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Letter: Chancellor got it all wrong
A cancellation of a petrol duty rise but rail fares going up by inflation plus 1% – the tenth year of above-inflation rises. There’s some unfairness here. We have an incompetent Chancellor in an incompetent government who allows £120billion
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Letter: It's a pension nightmare
I have worked all my life and saved. My pension disappeared on Black Wednesday when John Major was prime minister. They wanted me to put extra money into the pension scheme so I would not fall short. Good job I didn’t – where would I have
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Letter: Dog's life just got better
Six-month-old puppies should not find themselves in such positions of danger (‘Puppy rescued from pond’). Rather, they should spend their lives as members of a family, above humans in all respects. My Staffordshire has been accepted at Barking college
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Letter: Seeing conflict from both sides
For lasting peace, Palestinians and Israel must secure full ceasefire and commit entirely on sacrificing their existing stand and give, to gain freedom from each other’s escalated hostilities. This would mean for Hamas to discontinue firing rockets
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Letter: More electricity is the answer
TO increase the power of Winter Hill would require extra electricity – perhaps as much as Energie-Kontours windmills intermittently produce, so what is the point of having these things? Or alternatively, invest the £100,000 the Hyndburn Prospects
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Extension plan
MR and Mrs Proctor, the owners of Pine Lodge Farm, Rishton, have applied for a single-storey extension which would provide an entrance hall, utility room, farm office and dining room.
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Letter: Solution for TV reception
Re Hyndburn residents claiming a windfarm is interfering with their TV signal – Haslingden is a low power relay transmitter designed to serve parts of Rossendale and Accrington which cannot receive a satisfactory signal from Winter Hill transmitter
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Drug allegation
STEVEN Bradshaw, 36, of Mount Pleasant Street, Oswaldtwistle, was bailed by Blackburn magistrates charged with producing cannabis.
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Fire alarm misery
NEIGHBOURS were woken in the early hours of Saturday by an automatic fire alarm.Residents at Gladstone Heights apartments, in Eagle Street Accrington, were disturbed. Firefighters from Hyndburn attended the scene.
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Pitch plan
ST Christopher’s High School, Accrington, has requested full planning permission from Hyndburn Council for a 3G surface six-a-side football pitch and extension to a car park.
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Teenager bailed
JORDAN Birtwell, 18, of Queen Street, Clayton-le-Moors, was committed on bail to Burnley Crown Court by Blackburn magistrates charged with possessing methyl-N-ethyl cathinone with intent to supply.
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Cannabis charge
DONOVAN Anthony Wallace, 24, of Manor Street, Accrington, is accused of producing 67 cannabis plants. He was committed on bail to Burnley Crown Court by Blackburn magistrates.
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Drink driving denial
CRAIG Allan Shorrock, 38, of Yeadon Close, Accrington, was remanded on bail by Blackburn magistrates after pleading not guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
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Petrol blaze scare
A PETROL can was set alight in a back alley off Spring Street, Rishton. Fire crews attended at around 10.30am on Saturday and spent around 10 minutes at the scene. Slight damage was caused to a resident’s back gate.
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Lane closures hit A56 traffic
A BROKEN-down car led to lane closures on the A56 at Huncoat on Saturday morning. The car, which had to be removed, caused delays for motorists at around midday. All lanes were reopened by 1.30pm.
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Drug dealing concerns
RESIDENTS in the Crosshill Road and Manor Road area of Blackburn have raised serious concerns about drug dealing in their area.
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Hyndburn council in £36,000 calendar rumpus
GLOSSY recycling calendars have been branded ‘an obscene waste of money’ by opposition councillors. Hyndburn Council’s ruling Labour group have this year spent £36,000 on the calendars which serve as a handy reminder of when to recycle. The
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Alarm call-out
DUST triggered an automatic fire alarm at a former NHS building in School Lane, Guide. Builders carrying out work at the former health building set off the smoke alarm. Firefighters from Blackburn attended at around 10am on Saturday morning but
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Man rescued from lift trap
A MAN in his 50s trapped in a lift had was rescued by firefighters on Friday night. The man, of St Michael’s Court, Blackburn, where the incident happened, became trapped between floors at around 11.15pm.
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Drink driving charge
CHANG Dong Wang, 27, of the New Dragon Takeaway, Bolton Road, Blackburn, was bailed by magistrates charged with drink-driving.
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Assault guilt
LEONARD Arthur Miller, 57, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, was conditionally discharged for 12 months and ordered to pay £105 costs by magistrates after admitting assaulting Barbara Whittam after an argument over money.
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Blackburn teenager goes missing for six hours on way home
A SIX-hour manhunt was launched after a teenager failed to return home from school. Anthony Harrington, 14, who attends Blackburn Central High School, in Haslingden Road, went missing on Wednesday night after being sent to Darwen Vale as a punishement
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GALLERY: High-speed Santas bag charity cash in Clitheroe
FUNDRAISING running Santas took to the streets of Clitheroe this weekend in aid of a local charity. Following on the success of East Lancashire Hospice’s first ever Santa Dash last year, the second of what is now turning into an annual event took
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Replacement bus
A BUS service replaced the Northern Rail service between Preston and Colne, and Preston and Blackburn, yesterday due to engineering work.
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Supermarket theft
ANTHONY Monaghan, 21, of Delph Close, Blackburn, was fined £65 with £105 costs by Blackburn magistrates after pleading guilty to stealing lager worth £6 from Asda.
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Gas main work to begin
GAS mains work is due to start in Brantfell Road, Great Harwood, today. The road crossing, opposite number 17, will be dug up to make way for a 17m new domestic supply. The work, being carried out by National Grid Gas NW Network, is scheduled to take
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Exercise class
PILATES classes will be starting at Tockholes Village Hall, Darwen, on Tuesday, January 8, from 11am until 12pm. The lessons will be held every week at the same time and are aimed at people of all levels. Mats will be provided. Admission is
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Christingle service
CENTRAL United Reformed Church, Duckworth Street, Darwen, is holding its ‘Christingle’ service conducted by Rev T Young on Sunday, December 16, at 2pm.
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Cagney film showing
DARWEN Library Theatre’s Film Society is screening Yankee Doodle Dandee on Tuesday, December 11, at 2pm. The 1942 feature stars James Cagney as the renowned actor, dancer, playwright and composer George M Cohan.
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Art exhibition
AN EXHIBITION of work by Darwen Art Society is at the Sunnyhurst Wood Visitor Centre until January 9. It opens 2pm to 4.30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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School damaged
HOLY Trinity CE School, in Bank Top, is being increasingly plagued by damage to its premises on evenings and weekends. It will see a crackdown by Darwen police patrols.
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Church and chat
ST Stephen’s Church, Tockholes, is holding Sunday services on December 16 and 30. Sunday school will follow. Refreshments will be available afterwards and all are invited to stay and chat.
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Tai chi class
TAI chi classes are held in Tockholes’ community hall on Wednesdays from 1.45pm to 2.45pm. Admission is £3, with tea and coffee available afterwards. Call Lyn on 704424 or Judith on 771367.
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Fire call-out
DARWEN Fire Service attended a misfiring boiler releasing smoke and gas from a vent on the exterior of the house in Ratcliffe Street at 3pm on Saturday.
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Join creative crew
CRAFT and chat at the Victoria Hotel, Tockholes, is held every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7pm until 9.30pm. The group welcomes everybody who likes to knit, design jewellery, cross stitch or crochet and everything in between.
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Grit and salt bins filled
TOCKHOLES village will be provided with five one ton bags of grit and salt to combat the icy road conditions. The loads will be sited at strategic locations. Yellow bins will still be filled when necessary. Blackburn with Darwen Council
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Fury over pay rises for Lancashire NHS directors
NHS bosses in Lancashire have been criticised for taking pay rises of up to 22 per cent while nurses were left facing a pay freeze. Management at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust have defended significant wage hikes for several executives,
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Friends of Darwen cemetery offer grave maintenance service
A NEW grave maintenance service by a Darwen friends group has been launched. The Friends of Darwen Cemetery would carry out work to graves four times a year for a fee of £20. Before the service can be signed up to, volunteers from the group will
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Darwen children lead 'foul play' camapign
CHILDREN from Darwen Vale High School have joined forces with Blackburn with Darwen Council and the police to tackle the issue of dog mess in public places. The pupils, who are members of the Darwen police cadets, were leading a ‘Foul Play’ campaign
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High praise for brave Tockholes girl Aimee after rescuing pet rabbit from weasel
BRAVE Aimee Navesey, seven, who saved her pet rabbit from the clutches of a weasel, has been congratulated by Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry via a letter from the Houses of Parliament. Aimee’s sisters Katie, nine, and Lucy, 10, were also recognised
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East Lancashire couple win sequence dancing title
A COUPLE from East Lancashire have waltzed their way to success and been named British Sequence Dancing Champions. Dance partners Philip Rawcliffe, 20, from Lower Darwen, and Hannah Roberts, 21, from Burnley, beat 20 pairs to be crowned the best
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Tockholes councillors told to supply own Christmas tree in future
TOCKHOLES parish councillors are considering their options after being informed the borough council will not provide its Christmas tree next year. The village’s Christmas tree had its lights switched on at an event on Friday night. But the
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Driver warning
MOTORISTS are being urged not to leave their cars unattended with the engine are running to defrost them.Police say thieves target cars over the winter months.
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Remanded on bail
GARY Paul Hargreaves, 25, of Cringle Way, Clitheroe, was remanded on bail by Blackburn magistrates after pleading not guilty to assaulting Corrine French.
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Treats in store
CHRISTMAS parties, meals out, and making decorations are among the activities on offer this month at Lancashire's young people's centres. For details visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/yps.
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Carol concerts at cathedral
A SERIES of lunchtime carol concerts are being given by pupils from local schools at Blackburn Cathedral this week. The first today will be by the choir from St Gabriel’s Primary. They are followed by St Luke & St Philip’s on Tuesday; St
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Parents of Blackburn man killed by a single punch visit scene of attack
THE parents of a 24-year-old man, who was killed in a ‘one-punch’ town centre attack have visited the place he was attacked to launch a campaign in his name. Adam Rogers died after being attacked while on a night out with pals in Blackburn when
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Buying presents for teenagers is hard work
Christmas was so much easier when my children were younger. I could pop to the shops, pick up a few gifts and stocking fillers then head home, imagining the delight on their faces as they opened them. Now it’s a different story. It takes a
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Clock ticking on stamps celebrating East Lancashire Olympians
TIME is running out to buy souvenir Olympic gold medal stamps from the Royal Mail. Stamps for every TeamGB and ParalympicsGB gold medallist during the London 2012 Games have been produced. Colne’s Steven Burke was featured on a stamp for winning
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Ice brings weekend of chaos on East Lancashire's roads
POLICE and paramedics were called to a number of ice-related smashes over the weekend, as dangerous driving conditions caused road chaos. Despite a milder weekend, the weather is expected to turn much colder from tomorrow, with gales, showers and
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Get active to help friends of Nelson's park
THE Friends of Victoria Park in Nelson are aiming to encourage more people of all ages to become active members in their group. They need people with different skills. Coun Nadeem Ahmed said: “So whether you're a horticulture expert, you have organisational
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Pendle MP praises disabled people
PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson has praised the contribution disabled people make to society. Speaking on International Day of Persons with Disabilities he said the government’s disability strategy – Fulfilling Potential – includes a number of measures
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Plans brewing for Pendle beer festival
THE ninth annual Pendle Beer Festival will be held at the end of January. More than 100 real ales will be on offer at the festival at Colne Muni in Albert Road, from January 31 to February 2. As well as ales, there will be ciders, perries and
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Hyndburn MP welcomes TV reception pledge
HYNDBURN MP Graham Jones has welcomed news that bosses of a new wind farm have offered to help people whose TV signal has been affected by the development. Dozens of Baxenden residents have lost TV reception because of the wind farm on the moors
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Good news for Bolton-by-Bowland four-year-old in cancer battle
THE family of a four-year-old boy diagnosed with a brain tumour have had the best early Christmas present they could of wished for — news he is in remission. Jen and Rob Lambert are celebrating after waiting 12 agonising weeks to find out if the
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Lawyer leads Blackburn firm's litigation service
THE Blackburn office of law firm Napthens has established a dedicated litigation service for East Lancashire, with the appointment of Stephen Crossley. Stephen, of Blackburn, also holds the role of registrar of the Church of England’s Diocese of
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East Lancashire media firm in a league of its own
AN award-winning East Lancashire media company has scored a sponsorship deal with the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. Altham-based Media Village has delivered a sponsorship package which includes a new, £6,000 club-wide administration website
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Sky's the limit for Chorley clothing firm
FROM small beginnings storing stock in her bedroom and waiting for her first phone order, Sky McCann has built up an outdoor clothing business employing 22 people in just eight years. Sky, 36, along with her husband Richard set up Out Of The City
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Blog: Strictly Come Dancing - week 10
With only two weeks left until we crown our Strictly 2012 Champion, and as the competition really starts to get tough the producers decide to throw another spanner in the works by adding ‘Dance Fusion’ where our performers now have to master the style
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Go with the flow to spot a dipper
A couple of weeks ago I was asked to give a lecture about the life of the dipper to a group of southern-based naturalists. Their rivers flowed so slowly that most areas are not suitable for the dipper. It loves fast-moving streams and rivers
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Information on adoption
AN information evening is being held in Nelson for people to find out more about adoption. People who have adopted will be there to share their experiences, and social workers will also be available to answer any questions people might have, talk
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Benefits advice for over-60s
OLDER people in East Lancashire can find all the information they need about benefits in a new booklet. The booklet, called 60+… Benefits for You, is produced by Lancashire County Council's welfare rights service, and is free to all over-60s living
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Lannashire Probation Trust prosecutor is called to the bar
LANCASHIRE Probation Trust can now call upon the expertise of a fully qualified barrister to advise staff and prosecute offenders who breach orders. After combining full-time work with gruelling part-time study for the past few years, the trust
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Berg calls for Blackburn Rovers not to panic
HENNING Berg has called for everyone at Blackburn Rovers to ‘keep their heads’ after insisting his side are not a ‘million miles’ from their Premier dream. Friday night’s miserable 4-1 home defeat to Championship leaders Cardiff City leaves Berg
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Trippier: 'Clarets are no one man team'
KIERAN Trippier insists Burnley have not become over-reliant on top scorer Charlie Austin. But the defender (pictured left) has warned the Clarets cannot afford to keep squan-dering chances. Burnley have picked up just one point this season
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East Lancashire MEP welcomes ruling on cross-border legal disputes
EAST Lancashire MEP Sajjad Karim has welcomed new rules on cross-border legal disputes. He said they will make it cheaper and easier for businesses and consumers in the UK to protect their rights across the EU. Mr Karim, of Simonstone, the
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Red diesel legal for gritting
EAST Lancashire farmers are allowed to use red diesel in their tractors if helping to grit and clear snow from public roads. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) made the announcement as the first snow of winter began to fall. Under normal rules,
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Dementia review helps 17,000 people in Lancashire
A PUBLIC consultation into a shake-up of specialist dementia services in Lancashire has been launched. More than 17,000 people are thought to be living with dementia in the county. NHS Lancashire and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust have
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New bid to trace belongings stolen from Accrington
POLICE are re-appealing for information after a burglary in Accrington. At around 3.30pm on November 28, a couple returned to their home on Queens Road West to find that the side door had been forced open. As they entered the house, the retired
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Lancashire police chief asks public for feedback
LANCASHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, wants to hear residents’ views about crime and policing and has launched a survey asking people to tell him what issues are affecting them. The survey, entitled 'Your Policing Priorities
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Warning after killing of rare hen harrier in the Forest of Bowland
THE UK’s largest shooting organisation, has condemned the illegal killing of a rare hen harrier. The bird, fledged on land managed for shooting in the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire in 2011 and satellite-tagged, was discovered shot dead on a moor
