A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Blackburn Gilbert and Sullivan Society present "The Merry Widow," Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, 7.15pm. "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Charter Theatre, Preston, 1.30pm.
THOUGH there may be nothing new in bobbies on bicycles -- the sight was once so familiar that the 'police bike' was a type in itself -- their return in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale is bound to be a welcome departure. For the bicycle police may provide
THE cost £6.50 per household to give people in Blackburn and Darwen the standard of gritting they would like roughly equates to the cost of councillors per household. Given that councillors no longer have a viable function in the new set-up, then maybe
TOMORROW, the North West, once again, is the reluctant host of the notorious hare coursing event -- The Waterloo Cup. For three days the normally quiet and peaceful fields of Altcar will echo to the excited, sickening cheers of hundreds of hare coursing
FRIENDS of the Earth are happy that Burnley people will have the opportunity to see and discuss the Local Plan, for this is the only chance to influence future development in Burnley for the next 10 years. Will your area be safe from new development?
AN Indian chef from Leigh has seen off competition from some of Britain's top restaurant cooks to win an international award. Judges handed the title of International Indian Chef of the Year to Sunil Menon, aged 33, a development chef for Patak Foods.
A GROUP of factory workers tore off their overalls for a Full Monty-style calendar which has raised £700 for a teenager suffering from leukaemia. The brave lads at Bentwoods, in Leigh, showed off their bodies for the raunchy collection which has been
BLACKBURN Rovers' Worthington Cup triumph was the first domestic soccer showpiece to be played indoors. Officials made the decision to close the Millennium Stadium's massive roof in Cardiff hours before the kick-off as rain set in. Both Rovers and Spurs
LANCASHIRE Evening Telegraph reporter Ian Singleton has been a Blackburn Rovers fan since he was four. Here he explains what it was like for a life-long fan to see the team lift the cup... IT'S 74 years since Rovers won a major cup, so this is an unknown
FLYING winger Keith Gillespie last night hailed Rovers' Worthington Cup success as the highlight of his career. Before yesterday's 2-1 victory over Spurs, the Northern Ireland international hadn't won any major honour in the English domestic game. So
UNCLE Jack would have been proud of you -- that was the message to Graeme Souness' ecstatic team from the Walker family. A number of the millionaire benefactor's family were at the Millennium Stadium to see Rovers' victory, the second major success for
COUNCIL bosses have unveiled plans to rejuvenate a Blackburn town centre eyesore - but have been told there is plenty more work still to do. Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration chiefs hope to attract a new development to land off Salford, currently
ANYONE who thought there was no future in 'Cole' in this part of Wales was not at the Millennium Stadium to see Andy Cole re-ignite Blackburn's flagging season. For the red-hot Rovers striker not only fired the goal to deliver his new club's first major
A PENSIONERS' campaigner has launched a petition against Lancashire County Council plans to close 35 old people's homes. Susan Troughton, founder of the Campaign for the Restoration of Older People's Services, plans to march on County Hall in Preston
CRIMINALS in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale now run the risk of being chased by bobbies on pedal cycles! Community beat officers in the police Pennine Division are to "get on their bikes" to get round their patch. Ten of the 18 community beat officers
IT may not have seemed like it this weekend, but spring is on its way and with it the opportunity to raise funds for Burnley and Pendle Hospice Care. Pendleside Hospice, Reedley, is appealing to gardeners to help them raise money for the annual garden
A MENTALLY ill woman who tried to knife her friend when he refused her advances has been sent to hospital. Burnley Crown Court heard Jacqueline Penney, 33, had attempted to kiss and straddle the victim and later tried to cut herself after he disarmed
A DISC jockey found to be over the limit said he had a lot to drink at his grandmother's funeral the day before and 'topped it up' with several pints, a court was told. Burnley magistrates heard how Kristian Jordan Stevens, 33, was not insured because
A BROTHER and sister from Colne have collected 1,000 signatures in protest against plans to close down old people's homes. Ashley Aspin, 14, and his sister Carlie, 13, were so angry when they heard that the homes might close they decided to set up their
BLACKBURN Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production at the Civic Theatre in Oswaldtwistle this week should make at least four other people pretty happy. The Merry Widow, by Franz Lehar, is being staged from tonight to Saturday at 7.15pm. Free raffle tickets
A SLEEPING teenager became angry when he awoke to find his friends cutting his hair, a court was told. Alan Sturdy, 18, hit and stabbed one man and a second was also cut with the knife. The defendant, who also raided his parents' home while on bail, was
BRAVE fundraiser Gary Aspden is hoping he hasn't bitten off more than he can chew when he takes the plunge to dive with sharks in a bid to improve the lives of terminally ill youngsters. Gary, 26, of Fielding Lane, Oswaldtwistle, took up scuba diving
WORK has begun to create Hyndburn's very own 'Babes in the Wood' environmental project. Local residents donned their gardening gear to plant trees in the new Hyndburn Millennium Baby Woodland created to commemorate children born in 2000. Everyone who
Thursday, February 28 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohens Chemist, 63 Whalley Range; To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 6.30pm: Donald Wood Ltd, 53 Fishmoor Drive
Friday, March 1 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
Monday, February 25 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: Moss Pharmacy, 314 Bolton Road; The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst
IN this week of all weeks it was appropriate that Alan Moore's stunning winner was a beautiful curling shot right into the target area. Rhona Martin would have been proud of him! He did not have to be dead wait but it did curl straight into the top corner
IN this week of all weeks it was appropriate that Alan Moore's stunning winner was a beautiful curling shot right into the target area. Rhona Martin would have been proud of him! He did not have to be dead wait but it did curl straight into the top corner
RENT reductions are being offered to breathe new life in Darwen's three-day market. The full details of the scheme have not yet been revealed, but Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council officers said they hope it will entice traders into the market. And
A 37-year-old Darwen man subjected his estranged wife to a ferocious beating after finding a photograph of another man on her bedside cabinet. Blackburn magistrates heard that Deborah Bentley lost count of the number of blows as she was punched repeatedly
RESIDENTS of Ramsbottom can root out their family history at a series of events taking place in the town's library. The first family history help surgery was being held today from 2-4.30pm at the Carr Street library. Others will be held in March and April
POPULAR street art which caused controversy when it was erected has been removed -- to be repaired. The blue metal tree, which usually stands on the corner of Bocholt Way and Bury Road, close to the Queen's Square roundabout and Rawtenstall fire station
WORK will start next week on a scheme to transform a run down recreation area in Stacksteads into a modern playground. The £49,000 scheme has been planned and designed by residents around Cutler Crescent, Stacksteads, including the children. Youngsters
A LOOK at the key stats and figures from the Worthington Cup victory over Spurs. ROVERS: BRAD FRIEDEL: Arise Sir Bradley of Blackburn! Deserves to be knighted after pulling off a string of top saves...10 MARTIN TAYLOR: Had his hands full against Ziege
MAN of the match Brad Friedel was quick to play down his impressive role in Rovers' Worthington Cup success. The American goalkeeper pulled off three stunning world class saves to keep out Spurs, with former England striker Les Ferdinand the man denied
BUSINESS leaders today claimed Rovers' magnificent triumph in the Worthington Cup would help to put Blackburn back on the international map. With victory at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium guaranteeing a place in European football next season, they said
AN exhibition by 3,000 schoolchildren has attracted record numbers to Blackburn Museum. The exhibition, called Dreamers, featured an army of clay models made by the pupils in schools across Blackburn with Darwen. Each model contained a secret wish. Mary
THE cheers of celebration almost lifted the roof off the Millennium Stadium. But after the first throws of ecstasy, the Blue and White Army hugged each other with relief -- the margin between success and failure was far too close for comfort. Every fan
A MAN jailed for buying more than 50 ecstasy tablets for his friends has been freed at the Court of Appeal. Neil Wallace, of Hastings Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty in May 2001 to possession of ecstasy with intent to supply and possession of amphetamine
A CORONER has warned cyclists of the dangers of not wearing protective helmets after a man died from head injuries sustained in a road accident. Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Michael Singleton told an inquest into the death of William
ANYONE who thought there was no future in 'Cole' in this part of Wales was not at the Millennium Stadium to see Andy Cole re-ignite Blackburn's flagging season. For the red-hot Rovers striker not only fired the goal to deliver his new club's first major
HAT-trick hero Paul Baker was quick off the mark, opening the scoring after just 25 seconds. Incredibly, it wasn't Baker's fastest of the season having already scored against Alsager with just 13 seconds on the clock. Darwen's leading scorer grabbed his
CLITHEROE showed they were the men for all seasons with a victory over the conditions as well as their hosts. In a game played in everything Mother Nature could throw at them Lee Sculpher's men came up with a deserved three points. "We had a bit of everything
ACCRINGTON STANLEY threw away the chance to take all three points from the UniBond Premier League clash against Frickley at the Crown Ground. Simon Carden put the Reds ahead after just two minutes and Paul Mullin had the ball in the back of the net on
RESEARCHERS have been delving into what youngsters take to school for lunch. They found that typically lunchboxes contain white-bread sandwiches filled with anything from chocolate spread to meat paste, a couple of chocolate biscuits, a packet of crisps
LEIGH Centurions, the 200-1 outsiders have drawn mighty Wigan in the last eight of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup on March 16 or 17. Centurions, who beat Whitehaven 26-23 yesterday, are confident of attracting a capacity 12,000 crowd to Hilton
A LAST gasp goal from Leon Knight stole the points for Town and spoilt the party in Blackpool's first match in their two new stands. Unfortunately for the Seasiders a new stadium didn't bring a new defence and the near-capacity crowd witnessed Pool make
DENIS Underwood's Great Harwood came away from high-flying Salford City without the point their performance richly deserved. The Showground side turned in a spirited display but had nothing to show for it as Tony Carroll's 35th minute strike separated
COLLEGE technician Clare Haddock works 70 hours week. But she is only paid for half of them. Clare is one of an increasing number of students who must put in a full working week so that they can afford to study for a degree. And, according to new research
A LOOK at a local school. SCHOOL MESSAGE: We are a Lancashire County Council-maintained nursery school providing quality foundation stage education for three and four-year-olds. We believe that the early years are crucial in a child's development and
Quarter-final pairings: Leigh v Wigan, Leeds v Wakefield, Castleford v Doncaster, Halifax v St Helens. Ties to be played on the weekend of March 16 and 17. William Hill odds: 6-4 Wigan, 2-1 Leeds and St Helens, 12-1 Castleford, 28-1 Halifax, 50-1 Wakefield
A NEW £3 million housing scheme in Bury has greeted its first residents. And East Bury resident Annette Shepherd is one of those holding the keys to a brighter future. She is one of the first to move into a new home in Maxwell Street, on the site of the
I READ with relish the results of Operation Hurricane (LET, February 12). No doubt this operation took some considerable time to execute and the excellent results were because of hard work and tenacity and involved considerable personal risk to the undercover
IHAVE followed with interest the correspondence regarding the standard of gritting in Blackburn and Darwen, and one thing is clear, despite the result of your poll (LET, February 6) there are still an awful lot of people dissatisfied with the service.
POLICE arrested only five people on the day - and praised Rovers and Spurs fans for their good nature. Three men from the Blackburn area were arrested after another man from Blackburn complained he was assaulted. A Blackburn man was taken into custody
FOOTBALLERS' wives celebrated victory with their loved ones - but said it was really a victory for benefactor, the late Jack Walker. Partners and children of Rovers players watched from a special box in the stadium and cracked open the bubbly on the full
FORMER Rovers boss Roy Hodgson was delighted to see his old club lift the Cup - but remembered the man who paved the way for it all to happen. "Blackburn are so much in Jack Walker's debt," said Hodgson, remembering the Rovers benefactor who pumped millions
NILS-Eric Johansson admitted he may have made contact with Teddy Sheringham. Spurs protested loudly for a penalty in the dying minutes after Nissa's challenge on the Tottenham favourite. "My first reaction was that he dived," said Johansson. "I can't
SUSPENDED battler Garry Flitcroft watched the game from the stands but lifted the trophy along with captain-for-the-day Henning Berg. He was obviously delighted to see his team mates win the game against the odds without the suspended trio Tugay, Craig
IT was a fantastic homecoming for Welsh boss Mark Hughes who more than enjoyed clinching the Worthington Cup on his home turf. The veteran striker moved into midfield in the absence of the suspended Garry Flitcroft and Tugay and proved an absolute revelation
REGULARS at the Knowles Arms, Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, began celebrating straight after the final whistle. Andrew Caton, 34, of Highbank, Blackburn, said: "They played really well and deserved this. It has been a long time coming." His son Cameron,
THE British Islamic militant who confessed to masterminding the abduction and murder of US reporter Daniel Pearl was today linked to the gang that kidnapped Blackburn student Paul Wells. Paul, whose family lived in Feniscowles, Blackburn until a couple
Leigh Centurions 26 Whitehaven 23 by Mike Hulme LEIGH Centurions reward for reaching the last eight of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup is a lucrative home tie against competition favourites Wigan. It is a dream tie for the Centurions who have
AN emotional Graeme Souness last night hailed his Worthington Cup heroes - and backed them to win their fight for Premiership survival. Even though he has won every honour in the book in his illustrious career, Souness choked back the tears as he led
RESIDENTS of Burnley have until an April 5 deadline to make comments on the new Local Plan. Every, person, business and organisation in the borough has the chance to get involved in the plan's preparation and to comment on its contents. During the six-week
BURNLEY town centre will put itself in the shop window before a gathering of 100 key retailers and property agents this week. The Town Centre Management Initiative will be exhibiting at a national property seminar in Manchester Town Hall on Thursday where
TENANTS in homes owned and managed by Burnley and Padiham Community Housing will have to pay below inflation rent increases. The rise has been pegged at 1.7 per cent, an average of less than 50p a week for each of the 5,000 houses which the company took
A JUDGE faces the stark choice of locking up a mentally-ill sex offender indefinitely or freeing him after a nine month wrangle over his future. Judge Raymond Bennett said he has to give Mohammed Latif, 21, an absolute discharge or have him detained indefinitely
PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has attacked hare coursing as a barbaric sport. He condemned the running of the Waterloo Cup which takes place at Altcar, Merseyside this week. The event involves two dogs competing in a test of speed and agility in pursuit of
A FALL in the number of house burglaries in Pendle has been welcomed by Gordon Prentice MP. He has also greeted the publication of the draft safety strategy for 2002-5 by Pendle community safety partnership, which includes the council, police and other
POWERED by readers' memories, a train of East Lancashire's fondly-remembered old-time industrial locomotives has periodically passed through Looking Back in recent months ever since old Appleby, the long-gone workhorse of the Blackburn flour mill of the
HYNDBURN cricket clubs were bailed out by councillors thanks to a 75 per cent relief on their poll tax bill. The clubs faced a poll tax bill of £278 and a council house rent increase of £1.75 a week until the discount.
PUPILS were sent to the top of the class for their work in Oswaldtwistle community. Work done by staff and students at Rhyddings High, promoting the environment and community service, won them a Schools Curriculum Award.
THE boss of an Oswaldtwistle furniture manufacturer has offered a "substantial" reward after a gang of thieves escaped with leather suites worth about £20,000. The raiders struck at the Vine Mill premises of CSL Furniture on Friday night, just half an
Sunday, February 24 BLACKBURN: 10.30am-4.30pm: Superdrugs Pharmacy, 3-7 Stonybutts; 11am-2pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road; noon-1pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 62 New Chapel Street, Mill Hill. DARWEN: noon-1pm: Boots Chemists, 8 Market Street. ACCRINGTON
Wednesday, February 27 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; The Surgery (Chiropody), 132 Lammack Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The
Tuesday, February 26 BLACKBURN: To 9pm: Lloyds Pharmacy, 4-6 Railway Road; Cohen, 63 Whalley Range. To 8pm: Johnston Pharmacy, 50-52 Johnston Street. To 7.30pm: Aston Pharmacy, 95 Accrington Road. To 7pm: The Pharmacy, Oakenhurst Road; Geloo Bros, Cleaver
FOR much of the season the battle at the top of the first division has been the tightest seen in many years. At times only a handful of points and a couple of wins have separated the top 15 sides with everyone seemingly capable of beating everyone else
BURNLEY boss hailed on loan goalkeeper Marlon Beresford's achievement of playing 300 games for the Clarets and admitted: "If I can extend his loan period I will." The former Turf Moor favourite returned to the club on loan a month ago and his loan spell
A PART of Bickershaw's new woodland will reflect the creativity and hard work of primary pupils. Children from Bickershaw Primary School planted their own patch of forest for the new Community Woodland. Forestry Commission rangers and volunteers were
COUNCILLORS serving on Wigan Council will hold the following advice surgeries: TUESDAY, February 26: Community Centre, Dorset Road, Atherton (10am-11am) R Holmes; Shakerley Community Centre, Cumberland Avenue (1-2) Mrs E Smith; Sts Richard's School, Flapper
BURY boss Andy Preece believes the trouble torn Shakers' off-field survival problems are not affecting his players one bit - and that is a good sign for the on-field relegation battle. On an emotional day at Gigg Lane his team battled back from a goal
Bury 2 AFC Bournemouth 1by Phil Thorp: IF Saturday's game at Gigg Lane was supposed to be an occasion for mourning a few more afternoons like that will not go amiss. It was more like a celebration than a wake when Bury ran out for what could be their
A HEADTEACHER praised her staff and pupils today for lifting a school out of special measures imposed by government inspectors. St Edward's Primary School in Darwen is the last of eight schools in Blackburn with Darwen which were subject to special measures
A FIRE which destroyed £2,000 worth of stock at a town centre supermarket in Rawtenstall is being treated as arson. Fire crews were called to the rear of Hanbury's shop, Valley Centre, Bank Street, Rawtenstall at 3pm on Saturday when smoke from a rubbish
STARS from Rovers' past joined in the celebrations of the glorious Worthington Cup triumph and were quick to heap praise on Graeme Souness and his players. And Matt Woods, a player in the last Rovers side to play in a major final in 1960, claimed the
SELF-confessed chocaholic and super slimmer Beryl Thomas offered some inspiration during a healthy eating evening. Beryl, 50, was at Blackburn's Marks and Spencer to give shoppers an insight into how she has managed to drop three dress sizes in six months
BLACKBURN goal-hero Andy Cole last night said he felt 'over the moon' after scoring the goal which clinched Rovers' first major Cup triumph in 74 years. Cole wrote his name in Ewood folklore after firing Rovers to a 2-1 win over Spurs in the Worthington
ONE of the greatest days of our lives -- that was the verdict of Rovers fans as they left the Millennium Stadium with the widest smiles in Cardiff. Anthony Brine, 31, a teacher, of Mill Hill, Blackburn: said: "This is great for the town. "We're back in
BLACKBURN woke up today with a smile as wide as the Jack Walker stand after Graeme Souness's heroes put Rovers in wonderland. Thirty thousand ecstatic fans who made the journey to Cardiff and tens of thousands more back home began a giant party when the
AN emotional Graeme Souness last night hailed his Worthington Cup heroes - and backed them to win their fight for Premiership survival. Even though he has won every honour in the book in his illustrious career, Souness choked back the tears as he led
