TWO raiders forced a terrified shop assistant to hand over cash at knifepoint. Two men entered Boozebusters off-licence, Burnley Road, Accrington, shortly before 10pm tonight. The first was brandishing a knife and forced the female assistant, who was
A WOMAN brandishing two knives in a residential street was stunned with a taser following a three-hour stand-off with police. Armed police were called to Bowness Road, Padiham, to reports of a 20-year-old woman threatening to harm herself and other
IT WAS a tale of two penalties at Ewood Park last night as Rovers made it back-to-back wins. Brad Friedel came to Blackburn's rescue for the second game in succession as he saved Dean Whitehead's spot-kick after Chris Samba had fouled Daryl Murphy five
IT'S honours even at Ewood Park as Rovers struggle to break the visiting Black Cats down. Mark Hughes' side have huffed and puffed but not been able to create much in the way of clear-cut chances. Sunderland, fresh from a 3-1 win over Bolton at the
OVERWEIGHT people can now exercise without embarrassment thanks to a new business launched by a self-confessed larger lady. Mother-of-three Susan Beaumont, 34, will begin dance classes for the overweight and obese next month, after years of struggling
Darwen Local History Society present an evening with ex professional linesman & referee Steve Williams who will be talking on the history of Blackburn Rovers FC from 1875 to 1990. Steve was a referee for 29 years and professional linesman for 12 years
St Vincent's Homecare and Repair is a small locally based not-for-profit organisation designed to help vulnerable people repair or adapt their homes to meet their changing needs. They provide confidential support, advice and assistance to homeowners
THE sister of a man who died after going missing last New Year's Day has said her first year without him has been a "living nightmare". Joe Culshaw's devastated sister Charlene Dugdale said the festive season will never be the same without her brother
NEW plans have been drawn up which could breathe fresh life into the regeneration of Weaver's Triangle in Burnley. Weeks of talks between Rossendale-based developer Hurstwood and Burnley Council have resulted in amended plans being submitted for the
ROSSENDALE Sub Aqua Club is holding an open water scuba course starting on January 8. The course allows participants to practice the required theory and practical skills in an informal relaxed environment, as well as gain an internationally recognised
A DEFIANT shopkeeper was threatened with a kitchen knife in an off licence raid. The store's CCTV captured the moment that two hooded men entered Budget General Stores in New Wellington Street, Blackburn, and one pulled a knife on the owner Azar Hussain
A ROSSENDALE-based property developer has welcomed the announcement that there will no longer be caps on the number of new homes allowed. But Geoff Lever, a director of the Hurstwood Group, warned Rossendale Council that the desire for affordable homes
A MAN has been arrested over the hit-and-run crash which left a teenager seriously ill. Police took the suspect, from Darwen, into custody at around 5pm today after recovering a Nissan Navara. The development came as Martin Flaherty, 17, who was
Inspectors have praised the progress of a Blackburn primary school after it became subject to special measures over a year ago. Intack Primary School, Whitebirk Road, continued to impress officials from Ofsted during its latest inspection. Its progress
A planning application for Darwen's new leisure centre is expected early in 2008. The £12.7million, two-storey leisure centre will include a swimming pool, a gym and a cafe. Once an application has been submitted the plans will go before the council's
THE snow will go on for two Blackburn soldiers after taking part in the Army Snowboard Championships in Austria. Corporal Denise Swift and Sapper Andy Taylor, both aged 24, took part in the championships - codename Exercise Snow Jack - on the Stubai
KEITH Murray has competed in darts competitions up and down the country for the best part of 30 years but the next one will be the most important of the lot - a tournament in memory of his beloved wife Sharon. While the former Lancashire champion can
IMRAN Ali Shah is following in his father's footsteps after making the grade in martial arts. The 16-year-old has recently received his first Dan black belt thanks largely to his dad and instructor, third Dan Sensei Asghar Ali Shah. Imran is a student
STONYHURST College have reached the last 32 of the Daily Mail Under 18s Schools Rugby Union Cup. The cream is starting to rise to the top in the prestigious national competition with the North's strongest contenders starting to show their true colours
Bookings are being taken for the new state-of-the-art sports arena on the site of Darwen Vale High School, which will be officially opened this month. The £1.5m Blackburn Rovers Sports Arena has been funded by a £600,000 grant from Barclays' Spaces for
A RUN-DOWN area of Blackburn will get a facelift after redevelopment plans were given the go-ahead. Barratt homes had applied to build 253 new homes on the site of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary. The infirmary has been empty since the opening
A WOMAN travelled half way around the world to give her father a 60th birthday surprise - by jumping out of a giant, gift wrapped present. The Dean of Blackburn the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong's daughter Sarah, 29, has been teaching in Kuala Lumpur
TWO families who turned to a consultant for help over their endowment mortgages had to call in police before getting their compensation, a court has heard. Both couples saw an advert in their local press for Austin Hamilton Associates about endowment
THE Halo sculpture is the place which makes Rossendale residents feel most proud of their home area, according to the results of an online poll. The 21st century landmark designed by John Kennedy of LandLab, is an 18m-diameter steel lattice sculpture
POLICE called to a "domestic" row found an 18-year-old locked in his bedroom after his father threatened him, Burnley magistrates heard. The court was told how "drunken" Stephen Hargreaves, 50, had accused his son Gareth of being lazy, and the defendant's
A HUNDRED soldiers from the First Battalion of Duke of Lancaster's Regiment will be returning from Iraq in January - four months early. And the remaining 500 troops will be back at their German basein April instead of May. The soldiers, drawn from Lancashire
Lancashire's Saj Mahmood is to make his movie debut later this year, when he features in a new Bollywood movie called Victory. The film is about cricket with a similar storyline to that of Bend it Like Beckham, about a boy who reaches his dream of playing
UNPACK your thermals - snow is expected in East Lancashire in the next 24 hours after forecasters said temperatures would tumble. Gritters are out in force this evening amid warnings of hazardous driving conditions. Forecasters said the area would get
AROUND 30 minutes remained, but fed-up Burnley fans were leaving in droves. Three goals down, they had seen enough. And it's unlikely Owen Coyle would have blamed them. "As a team, and as the manager, I apologise to the fans for that because I expect
BARGAIN hunters are being urged to be vigilant when shopping in the January sales. Police have issued advice to prevent shoppers being targeted by opportunist thieves. It comes as part of Lancashire police's crime crackdown Operation Shepherd during
NEGLECTED land aro-und the River Darwen is to be given a new lease of life. Blackburn with Darwen Council has secured money to clean up the river around Robin Bank Road, near Darwen town centre. Approximately 50 years ago there was a gas works in Robin
WE make 'em and we almost certainly break 'em, but resolutions are as much a part of New Year as party poppers and Jools Holland on the box. And despite statistics telling us that nine out of 10 of us will have broken our New Year resolution by February
DETECTIVES have issued a fresh appeal for help over the mugging of a six-year-old in broad daylight in Burleigh Street, Burnley. Police believe the public can still help to catch the man responsible for the terrifying lunchtime attack on Hamza Ahmed
A MAN with violent offending on his criminal record, was involved in an early morning fracas outside his home. Thomas Howard shouted at his partner, banged on windows and was aggressive towards police who were called. He was given a suspended sentence
POLICE called to a bus station in the middle of the afternoon found a drunken man abusing the public. Burnley magistrates heard how Christopher Costello, 44, was waving his arms about and upsetting people. Costello, of Walton Street, Colne, admitted
TAXI fares across Pendle are set to rise in 2008 - but will remain far lower than the national average for cab rides. Public consultations are ongoing for the increases, which have been suppor-ted by Pendle Taxi Association, and follow recent rises by
BURNLEY Community Radio completed an 'absolutely fantastic' week on air live from Turf Moor. Listeners tuned in to 87.9FM to listen to a variety of topical programmes made by the community as part of the Burnley Community Network project. Chair
THE finest young engineers in the country battled it out at Darwen Vale High School. The Primary National Engineering Award 2007 saw 12 regional champions trying to impress the judges with their entries. The competition was a national initiative for
BLUEPRINTS for alterations to three of the superschools planned for Burnley and Pendle are to be unveiled in the coming weeks. Developers Catalyst want changes to approved proposals for Shuttleworth College, in Burnley Road, Padiham, Pendle Community
BLACKBURN Rovers keeper Brad Friedel can play on in the Premier League until he is 40, according to manager Mark Hughes. The big American shot-stopper, 36, has made 167 successive appearances for Rovers and has played every minute of every league and
PROUD mothers have been showing off their New Year babies after giving birth to the newest arrivals of 2008. Lyndsey Wilkinson, 26, was in labour for two days before her son Jenson Jayden Thomas was born at 3.07am yesterday at Burnley General Hospital
PUPILS have been helping to improve road safety outside their schools by designing road safety posters. Blackburn with Darwen Council launched a poster competition to highlight the problem of parents parking on the zig zag lines when dropping their children
THE coming year is going to be key in shaping the future of East Lancashire according, to a business leader. Mike Damms, chief executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said it was vital that projects aimed at kickstarting the regeneration of
Blackburn Hawks were unable to make it two wins out of two as they were beaten 8-3 by Billingham on Sunday in the Northern League. It was a tired-looking Hawks that took to the ice and, in direct contrast to Saturday, nothing seemed to go right for them
ROSSENDALE United showed their never-say-die spirit once again yesterday in a thrilling 3-3 UniBond Division One (North) draw at derby rivals Clitheroe. For the second time in four days, the Stags grabbed two goals in the dying minutes to snatch a draw
JOHN Coleman was less than impressed with his Accrington Stanley side's defending in their 2-0 defeat at home to Bradford City. Coleman said: "I'm disappointed. "They're not the first team to come here and not have to do anything to win the game. "
I AM writing to say thank you to everyone from the North West who has supported the Meningitis Trust during 2007 - the start of our 21st anniversary year. It's only with the help of local communities that we are able to continue our vital work helping
AS shoppers filled their larders with seasonal fare, Animal Aid visited one randomly selected turkey farm. The scenes we filmed were deeply disturbing. A large barn, divided into six areas, held hundreds of birds, destined to be the centrepiece at many
WITH Christmas over and the sales in full swing, many families in East Lancashire will be worrying about how they are going to make ends meet. Extra expenses could break the bank for those already struggling with debt. A family on average income spends
Specialist arts college the High School, Broadway will hold a year 11 parents' evening on Tuesday, January 22. Call 01706-215726 or 214590 for more information.
DISAPPOINTED Owen Coyle says he will show no mercy as he seeks to strengthen his Burnley squad. As the January transfer window swung open yesterday, a 3-0 defeat at Blackpool emphasised the Clarets boss's desire for a "dominant centre half". And he
Padiham Town Council will hold its first meeting of 2008 on Monday 7th January at 7.00pm, in the Ballroom Annex. The meeting is open to the public.
Improvement works to the Methodist Graveyard are to take place during 2008. The aim is to make grasscutting much easier and economic, and also to ensure all memorial stones comply with health and safety regulations. Several letters of concern have
Between £500 and £15,000 is being offered by Lancashire County Council through their Climate Change Fund which is open to voluntary organisations, community groups and parish councils for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Deadline for applications
St. John's Church is hoping to raise a team for the St. Cuthbert's Grand Knockout Quiz in aid of the Hospice in the New Year. Entries must be in by the 8th January. Teams will consist of three named players plus one reserve. Anyone interested should
Daniel Thwaites Brewery is toasting a Blackburn club after kind-hearted members raised more than £1,000 for its nominated charity. Mill Hill Working Men's Club teamed up with main suppliers Thwaites to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
Tai Chi classes commence in the Reading Rooms on Monday 7th January. They will then take place on alternate Mondays: 21st January, 4th February, 18th February, 3rd March and 17th March. New people wishing to register should contact Carole on 416947
The first meeting in 2008 of the Parish Council takes place next Tuesday 8th January at 7.40pm. There is a vacancy for a Parish Councillor and intersted persons should write to the Chair, Cllr. Tony Lambert, 16 Ravenoak Lane, Worsthorne.
Allotment rents will be collected on Tuesday, 8th January, in the Reading Rooms, at 7pm.
BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes has backed the man who was twice bought to replace him to fire Sunderland to Premier League safety. Aged 36, and now entering the twilight of his career, veteran hitman Andy Cole may no longer be the feared predator
Mellor Brook boy Edward Hunt, 21 this month, is looking for sponsorship. Edward, who works for BT in Blackburn has been chosen along with 29 apprentices to go to Lake Natron School in Tanzania where they are trying to raise money towards providing
Well, that's it for another year then, unless you live in Scotland where today is also a public holiday, or extra recovery day! Let's look ahead, and I don't just mean at how on earth we are going to manage to eat all the food stacked up in fridges and
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes believes tonight's home clash against Sunderland could spark a European challenge at Ewood Park this season. Blackburn finished 10th last term after heading into the new year in 14th place on 25 points. And Hughes feels
ROQUE Santa Cruz sends shivers down Roy Keane's spine. The 26-year-old Paraguay international's goal at Blackburn on Sunday was his 14th of the season and eighth in five games, and the Sunderland boss knows just what a threat he will be. Asked if his
MIDFIELDER Ian Craney is set to re-sign for Accrington Stanley today as John Coleman looks to freshen up his squad. With former Stanley favourite Andy Todd already back at the Fraser Eagle Stadium, on an initial one-month loan, Coleman revealed that
