Archive

  • Firm is in the flow

    A BLACKBURN firm is helping keep penguins and seals healthy after winning its latest contract. Ralspeed manufactures electrical starters and controls for electric motors. They have supplied products for work being carried out at Chester Zoo and the National

  • Safety top dogs

    STAFF are celebrating after beating off competition from across the country to win a top safety award British Steel Distribution, Blackburn, won the British Steel in-company award for improving health and safety in the workplace after reducing injuries

  • 2020 vision of East Lancs

    A NEW university, an Olympic-size swimming pool and vastly improved public transport links are part of a vision of East Lancashire life in the year 2020. The exciting developments were discussed at a major conference to suggest ways of developing the

  • MP lashes country housing strategy

    EAST Lancashire's lone Tory MP has condemned Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for doing too little to protect the Green Belt. The Ribble Valley MP is unhappy that the Government's U-turn on the issue will leave too many green field sites being concreted

  • TEN YEARS AGO: Dream plan unveiled

    A DREAM plan for a winter sports centre to be built in Hyndburn was revealed by council planners. An exhibition showing three-year demolition plan for Huncoat power station included the adventurous plan, which proposed an ice rink, ski slope, hotels and

  • Nationwide checks over mystery of body in river

    SCOTLAND Yard's missing persons bureau is trying to solve the Burnley body in the river mystery. Police forces throughout the country are being asked to check their missing persons' records and a national press appeal is also being made in an effort to

  • Tornado fears of worried families

    A WORRIED East Lancashire mother was today anxiously waiting for news of her daughter and three grandchildren after they failed to phone home from tornado-devastated Florida. Twelve twisters tore through the state wrecking everything in their path and

  • Homes queue-jumping accusation 'a nonsense'

    A COUNCILLOR accused of helping residents queue-jump a house waiting list will be officially represented by his council's former deputy leader at a disciplinary hearing. Full-time engineering union officer Mike Cooney will defend Lowerhouse Labour member

  • Street art takes pounding

    NEW artwork across Blackburn and Darwen was today condemned as meaningless and unsuitable by a local heritage group. Blackburn Civic Society has said pieces built by local artists to represent the history of the town should have been considered before

  • Saddam worth more alive than dead

    MANY people are scratching their heads, wondering how Saddam Hussein can be removed. Some ask why he wasn't got rid of at the time of the first war between the UN and Iraq. We are told that this wasn't on the agenda. Of course, it wouldn't be on the agenda

  • Town services to go private?

    A REVOLUTIONARY review of council services in Burnley could see private financiers grabbing a stake in the town's markets, car parks, the flagship Mechanics centre and Padiham town hall. Sweeping changes could be on the cards for the way the council is

  • Petrol price will hurt rural folk

    WHAT have the rural communities done to upset Gordon Brown? Why are we now facing a 20p per gallon rise in the cost of petrol? Does anyone in Westminster - especially Labour MPs who represent seats where public transport is not at its best - realise that

  • Threat to a vision: Money is key to learning dream

    2020 vision - a special report MONEY may not be available to fund a new university and many other future developments in East Lancashire, a Government boss warned. Baron Isherwood, director of the Regeneration Group for the North West Government office

  • Listener sees red over radio station

    READERS will probably have learned of Red Rose 999's decision to axe one of its most popular presenters after 10 years' service. I, along with many others, feel that this is just the latest attempt by the station management to re-aim Red Rose 999 at a

  • Visionaries will always win through

    IT MAY be a line from a libretto written nearly half a century ago, but the question is as good as ever today..."If you don't have a dream, how you going to have a dream come true?" And that is the positive way of thinking that emerged excitingly from

  • Taxes are cobbled up

    SO, here we go again with the crazy Council Tax. Not that the Council is crazy - although, sometimes, they do move in mysterious ways - but the tax itself is. this was a hastily-cobbled effort, put together to replace an equally badly-thought-out, so-called

  • More than a doctor needed in the House of Windsor

    The John Blunt column SO what spin doctors did for Labour's revival, the Queen, it seems, now hopes one will - for a salary of up to £150,000 - do for the image of our royalty. She should, I think, save her - or our - money. For while the need for a boost

  • £5,000 damage at squash club

    RAIDERS caused £5,000 damage and stole £1,300 after breaking into a squash club. The thieves cut wiring to the alarm system at Reedley Squash Club, Holden Road, before breaking in to the building. They ransacked the club, breaking through locked doors

  • Regulars stunned by landlady's death

    SHOCKED regulars at a popular pub are mourning the sudden death of landlady Barbara Walsh. Barbara, 52, ran the Thwaites owned Sunnyhurst Hotel, Darwen, with her husband Stuart. She died in the early hours of Saturday morning from a suspected heart attack

  • ROVERS: I'll be there for Eyal says Lampard

    FA Cup 5th round replay: Blackburn Rovers v West Ham United - Peter White's big match preview EYAL Berkovic incensed Blackburn Rovers players and supporters with his histrionics at Upton Park 11 days ago. Tonight, he will be aiming to upset them again

  • Steps to help the Russians

    A MARKETING and management consultancy based in Blackburn is forging links with businesses in the former Soviet Union. Kielder Newport West, based in the Daisyfield Business Centre, recently played host to Victor Danko, who owns a business consultancy

  • Booze wagon blocks road

    FIREFIGHTERS spent five hours trying not to spill the beer after a tanker carrying 24,000 litres of booze overturned on a busy dual carriageway. It trapped the driver and caused misery for rush hour motorists. The tanker overturned on the A56 near the

  • FIVE YEARS AGO: ROF order saves jobs

    A MULTI-million pound contract saved Blackburn's Royal Ordance factory, securing the jobs of the 350 remaining employees. An army order for fuses worth £15 million was announced by defence minister Jonathan Aitken. The news was welcomed by national secretary

  • Muggers blind church Canon

    MUGGERS have blinded a senior Blackburn Cathedral clergyman after pouncing on him as he walked through Manchester city centre. Canon Andrew Hindley is facing a tense wait to find out if his eyes have been permanently damaged in the attack. Mr Hindley

  • Dog-hunting Bill needs support

    THE huge vote in favour of Michael Foster's Bill to end hunting with dogs was an overwhelming success, with more than 73 per cent of MPs voting to support the Bill. Since the historic vote last November, the media has gone quiet on this issue and the

  • ICE HOCKEY: Adrian drains the resources

    Lancashire Hawks 5 Telford Tigers 14 LANCASHIRE Hawks are playing the waiting game - but Canadian goal ace Adrian Lomonaco is unlikely to play a part in any of Hawks' end-of-season play-offs. Hawks have heard nothing from the import, who left last month

  • Petulance over Mayor's charity ball

    THE decision by some councillors not to attend the Mayor of Blackburn's charity ball can, at best, be described as petulant and, at worst, ill-mannered and insulting. Regardless of what they say about 'other commitments' and 'private reasons,' we, the

  • Hound the hunters

    SINCE the historic day in November when 411 MPs voted to ban the hunting of wild animals with dogs, the hunting fraternity has continued to defy the will of Parliament and the majority wishes of the British people with its unabated persecution of hunted

  • Mighty oak: Our history is entwined in branches of this tree

    Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy PERHAPS the most famous oak tree in Britain is to be found at Boscobel, in Shropshire. It was near Boscobel House that Charles II was almost captured by the Roundheads and he only got away by hiding in the branches of an

  • Yes, Jon is back! Singer tours with 70s supergroup

    The Entertainers: Jon Anderson OUTSIDE Jon Anderson's home in central California lies a constant reminder of his Accrington roots. Much has changed since the founder member of smash 70's group Yes left school aged 14 to fend for his family by labouring

  • Royal ride for bike ace Carl

    WORLD superbike ace Carl Fogarty received his most precious medal yet - after a chat with Her Majesty. The Queen spoke to the 31-year-old Blackburn rider about his career before presenting him with his MBE for services to sport. "She asked him if he enjoyed

  • NON LEAGUE: Stanley pay the penalty

    Accrington Stanley 0 Southport 1 A MISSED penalty cost Stanley dearly after the Reds more than matched their Conference opponents in this ATS Lancashire Trophy semi-final. Had Steve Haw converted his spot kick to force extra time it would have been just

  • ROVERS: Hodgson backs cup storm referee

    ROY Hodgson today gave his full backing to referee Peter Jones - despite still "seething" over the red card he showed Kevin Gallacher in the first FA Cup clash between Blackburn Rovers and West Ham. The Loughborough official takes charge of tonight's

  • CLARETS: Burnley badly need another victory

    BURNLEY are facing a battle of the braves to survive in the Second Division after plummeting back into the relegation places last night. A return of just one point from successive home games means Burnley are now one of four clubs locked together at the

  • CLARETS: Burnley back in basement after home reverse

    Burnley 1 Wrexham 2 WHAT a difference a week makes. Seven days earlier Burnley completed a home and away derby double by beating Preston in the Auto Windscreens Shield to register their seventh successive home win. The Clarets were sixth from bottom of