The 13th Burnley National Blues Festival, The Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley. Free Computer Training, Daisyfield Centre, Blackburn. Details: 01254 53724. Blackburn and District Association of Mental Health, Mind Centre, Regent Street, 9.30am-5pm.
IT may seem a self-evident truth that the most ideal and effective people to solve family problems and disputes are the members of the family itself. But the fact that a scheme based on this notion is being 'imported' all the way from New Zealand by social
HOW is foot and mouth altering people's daily lives and what are businesses doing to survive in the run-up to the busy Easter holiday period? One of the first casualties in the battle to bring tourists back to East Lancashire is a tearoom in Slaidburn
I READ with disgust your report (LET, March 29) about the mindless yobs' attack on the pet pen at Oakhill Park in Accrington and the cruel death of poor Thumper the rabbit. It appears that nothing in Hyndburn is safe from these hooligans. They try their
HAVING recently returned from the Middle East where flowers border the major roads at great expense, I was appalled and distressed at the wanton destruction of the daffodils on Buncer Lane, Blackburn. Yet again, we have an example of the arrogance and
WE have accidents on our roads (more appropriately called crashes and incidents), so let's build humps, bumps, mini-roundabouts, chicanes, bollards, stupid cycle tracks and put white paint, green paint, red paint -- everywhere! Do anything. Blame anything
THE walking wounded have been flocking to a new health centre in Leigh which has dealt with 25,000 patients since it opened last year. More than 100 patients are turning up each day at the Leigh walk-in centre -- an increase of more than 100 per cent
A look at the local results. BLUE & WHITE ROSEBOWL QUARTER FINAL Bee Hive...0 Old Toll Bar...13 Mashiter 4, Foulds 2, Andre 2, Usborne, Boyle, Clanford, Walsh, Moore DIVISION ONE Darwen Alex...2 Lord Raglan...0 Rasul, Yates Lord Raglan...1 Darwen
Hyndburn and District Boys League 2 Bury and Radcliffe 0 HYNDBURN lifted the LFA Inter League trophy thanks to a disciplined display that was more hard graft than sublime skill. In a game starved of flair and any real goalmouth action, it was good, honest
THE winners of the Blackburn Sunday League's team of the month award for March is Witton Inn. The Division Two high-fliers had a fantastic month, culminating with a Rose Bowl victory against Division One side New Gardeners. Witton Inn win £15 in vouchers
BLACKBURN ROVERS have defended their decision to charge just £5 for the final two home games of the season. The move has angered some season ticket holders, who feel they have been unfairly penalised for buying their tickets in advance. But Rovers' public
Marks out of ten for the teams from thrilling top of the table battle. Rovers FRIEDEL: Hardly put a foot wrong since his move from Liverpool but should have punched Steve Finnan's cross clear...6 CURTIS: Mr Dependable once again at the back...7 SHORT:
ROVERS 1 - FULHAM 2 Jansen 6 - Saha 45, Davis 90 ROVERS boss Graeme Souness has repeatedly warned his players to expect the odd punch on the nose as they pursue their dream of a Premiership return. But even he couldn't have foreseen the way in which Sean
A LEYLAND councillor and anti-incineration campaigner has failed in his attempt to put forward a motion calling for the council to adopt a formal policy of no incinerators in South Ribble. Councillor Mark Alcock claimed both the Labour and Conservative
IT'S official -- Preston folk can breathe a sigh of relief after air quality specialists gave the town the thumbs up. A comprehensive study has shown that the quality of air in many parts of Preston meets national guidelines. A team of specialist environmental
FORMER residents from Preston's notorious Moor Lane flats claim crime rates in the area have dipped since their evacuation nearly a month ago. Many of the displaced tenants claim they are relieved to get away from the three high-rise flats where burglaries
A PUB is to revert to its original name because of the foot and mouth crisis. When businessmen Chris Sullivan and Steve Bolton took over the historic Bull and Butcher they changed the name to the controversial Slaughtered Lamb. Local historian Ken Spencer
ECSTASY, cannabis and amphetamines have been recovered following the launch of an amnesty scheme in East Lancashire night spots. The class A and B controlled drugs have been put in drugs amnesty safes at the Chicago Rock and The Works in Hammerton Street
DESIGNS for Burnley's £2million revamped bus station have been unveiled by the council -- together with news that work on the scheme will begin in August. The council say the project -- which replaces a much larger £6.5million scheme aborted last year
LONSDALE St John Ambulance cadet division is celebrating the outstanding success of four of its members at the annual county competitions. Anthony Ross, Elizabeth Midwinter, Cherish Otoo and Claire Sealey won all five first aid trophies. Anthony, of South
SECURICOR are offering a £5,000 reward form information leading to the arrest and conviction of gang members who attacked two security men as they delivered cash to a local shop. The men were both injured as they fought with two masked robbers at Healds
STAFF at Lancaster-based Pye Farm Feed put their emergency fire fighting skills into action to keep a fire under control until the local brigade arrived. The fire was caused by high levels of friction in a pellet mill chamber and production was halted
MOBILE phone mast protesters got many of the replies they were hoping for when they called at Burnley Town Hall to express their concern at possible health dangers. Council leader Stuart Caddy promised a policy review. He told Dennis Cannon, chairman
MORECAMBE is set to become a major player in the world of petanque. The resort's Regent Park has secured backing from the City Council to become one of the country's leading centres for the continental bowls game. The development with Morecambe Bay Petanque
LANCASTER City Council's beleaguered benefits department faces another five month backlog following further Government rule changes. The department which was forced to close its doors to the public to try and catch up on the backlog last year, currently
LOCAL MP Gordon Prentice has welcomed the increases to most social security benefits this week and said it is good news for the people of Pendle. The changes include inflation rises and help for carers, people who are severely disabled and pensioners,
The Warriors U10S conceded defeat in the final minute after a brave fightback which saw them level the score 24-24. They went in to an early lead against Widnes Moorefield, but several dropped balls gifted the opposition with two tries. The Warriors failed
CULTURE Secretary Chris Smith has poured cold water on Gordon Prentice's idea that members of the royal family should register their financial and business interests like MPs. But despite his intervention, support for the Pendle back bencher's idea is
Lost community is revived through exhibitions ARTIST David Titley is heading for a successful career in art but it is his interest in his local roots which is providing him with the inspiration. The 35-year-old has revived the history of an area of Colne
THE grave of one of East Lancashire's most famous sons faces an uncertain future and could fall into disrepair in a wrangle over the running of a graveyard. Sir William Pickles Hartley gave the world Hartley's jam and provided Colne with two hospitals
A TUTOR from Preston College has put pen to paper and written a beauty book with a cultural flair. School of Hairdressing and Beauty section leader Muriel Burnham-Airey, from Garstang, Preston, is over-the-moon after releasing her Indian Head Massage
A PRESTON engineering company has taken a leading role in the multi-million pound redevelopment of the town's railway station. HIM Associates, based in Walton-le-Dale, are working alongside Railtrack, Preston Borough Council and the Railway Heritage Fund
SCHOOLS across the county will soon see the benefit of an extra set of eyes thanks to Lancashire Constabulary's Air Support Unit. The Lancashire force is set to launch its helicopter to patrol the area above the county's schools as part of Operation Caretaker
A PENSIONER hoping to make a final pilgrimage to the island he was taken prisoner on during World War Two has died five weeks before the trip. Bill Helm was planning to take part in a fortnight of ceremonies and memorial services on Crete in May to commemorate
A SHOCKED and frightened pub landlady woke up in the early hours to find one of her regular customers in her bedroom. Burnley Crown Court heard how the plucky victim pushed Philip Speak out of the premises - after her young daughter heard him say he had
IT'S coming to the time of the season when Cup Finalists are decided. But unlike 10 years ago and before that -- does a place in a Cup Final still give players the same buzz. I will explain what I mean. In the past, Cup Finals where always played in whichever
I READ with astonishment the article in your edition of March 29 regarding the proper payment for publicly funded facilities. When I had the honour to be the Member for Lancaster, I never asked for free facilities to perform my parliamentary duties. I
WHALLEY: A young man seriously hurt in an accident when his car crashed into a tree has died in hospital. Neil Heywood, 23, of Limefield Avenue, Whalley, received multiple head and internal injuries when his Vauxhall Nova came off the road in Whalley
ACTIVISION'S next Star Trek game is based on the classic landing party theme. Choose your team of specialists from medics, engineers, scientists, and security, you then beam down on to an alien planet and get them all killed - all right if you like this
WITH the foot and mouth restrictions in full swing, London zoo's website is an ideal hit for that boring Sunday afternoon. Wildlife conservation is an important role being carried out by zoos around the world. The London Zoo website is combined with the
The money was donated from the amount raised this season's Charity Shield final between Manchester United and Chelsea. The other charities to benefit from donations from the club will be the Macmillan Windmill Appeal and the Mayors Appeal. A cheque for
REVOE Community Primary School achieved some outstanding results at the Blackpool School Sports Day. Teams from the school were triumphant in no less than four seperate events on the day and broke few records in the process. In the swimming event the
POOL'S promotion hopes are well and truly back on track after their superb away victory at Halifax. And now the coundown is on as the Seasiders enter their last six games of seasons in which they could confirm a place in the play-offs or even a fourth
Rushden & Diamonds 4 Morecambe 1 MORECAMBE'S trip to Rushden and Diamonds proved to be anything but glittering as the conference leaders ran wild at Nene Park. While old boy Justin Jackson was the player the Shrimps feared most, it was his strike
IT WAS heavy going for City at the Axe on Tuesday though they eventually managed to pip Colwyn Bay. Bryan Welch's late half-volley was enough for the Blues but a nasty challenge on Colin Potts saw him stretchered off with an ankle injury. The awards were
OLDHAM ATHLETIC RESERVES 0, BURNLEY RESERVES 3 THE Clarets youngsters recorded a superb win over Oldham at Mossley last night to move third in the Avon Insurance Premier League. Even striker Anthony Shandran was rested to keep him back for possible first-team
BURNLEY Football Club are spreading the word in an attempt to mine the untapped potential of the Asian community as supporters and would-be players. Dino Maamria has been appointed as the Clarets' first Ethnic Minorities Development Officer thanks to
TALENTED teenager Tom Boardman will create motorsport history when he makes his British Touring Car Championship debut next week. Aged 17 years and 183 days, he will become the youngest driver ever to compete in Britain's premier motor racing series.
BAE Systems engineers have been working on a baffling problem -- how to keep the Irish Sea gales out of the revamped St Annes Square. Engineers George Seyfang and John Whitehouse offered advice to the lead artist on the resort's public art programme Ondre
A POPULAR series of lectures in Lancaster city centre will no longer charge for admission, organisers have announced. The lunchtime lectures organised by Lancaster University's department of continuing education feature lecturers and professors from the
IRISH wing-wizard Damien Duff looks set to be ruled out for the remainder of Rovers' promotion campaign after suffering a fresh injury blow during last night's tortuous 2-1 defeat against league-leaders Fulham. On a night of high drama at Ewood, the Republic
EXPORTING ice cream to Singapore and stuffed animals to America is all in a day's work for Nortex International. The Burnley company is celebrating its tenth anniversary at the Rossendale Industrial Estate and has become one of the North West's leading
CHILDREN at a rural primary school were awarded top marks after an Ofsted inspection. Edgworth CE Primary School, in Bolton Road, Edgworth, was described in the report as a very good school that enabled pupils to consistently achieve high standards in
LANCASHIRE police have become the first UK force to order a new generation high-tech tracking device to help catch the county's most prolific travelling criminals. The integrated Automatic Number Plate Recognition system from Screen plc combines an existing
ROSSENDALE's Footpath Officer John Dwyer has given the OK for a guided walk to go ahead on Easter Sunday. Bacup Natural History Society member John Taylor, who is leading the walk as part of the Bacup Easter Weekend Festival, agreed the urban trail route
A VILLAGE pub will offer more than just pints in July when church services begin every Sunday for the new local Baptist church. There are plans to build a new church on the site of the former Ebeneezer Doal, Burnley Road, Weir, but until the single-storey
A GRANDFATHER was fighting for his life today after a thug hurled a house brick at his head. Geoffrey Swift, 36, of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, was hit outside his daughter's home in Crabtree Avenue, Edgeside. He is now on a ventilator in a serious
PUBLICANS have paid tribute to the longest serving Haslingden landlord Dave Eli Dewhurst who was found dead at his town centre pub. His wife Pat had been in Benidorm on holiday and flew back on Monday night to be greeted by the couple's children and Dave's
ALMONDS, they don't sound terribly exciting, but 50g of California almonds contains the same amount of protein as 50g of beef. They contain no cholesterol and are packed with fibre, calcium and vitamin E as well as potassium and magnesium, which help
DEDICATED Scout Peter Cox wasn't laughing on April Fool's Day when he was taken into Blackpool Victoria Hospital with a broken arm. But Peter's main concern was that everything should be all white on the night at the upcoming Live Wyre Gang Show at Fleetwood's
BLACKPOOL'S gamble on building massive Las Vegas-style casinos to turn it into an odds-on international holiday destination have been overwhelmingly backed by local people. Plans for the resort to become the UK home of Resort Casinos were launched at
A TERROR-STRICKEN 77-year-old Fylde resident has been forced to leave her home after suffering two years of harassment at the hands of a group of heartless teenagers. The deaf, partially-sighted and infirm woman who asked not to be identified, lives in
FUND RAISING can be such a pa-lava, but one St Annes man is hoping his charity stunt will not be going with a bang! For Osborne Road resident Miles Tackett is hoping to raise £5000 for a wildlife charity by scaling the world's highest active volcano.
PLANS to invest millions in setting up power-generating windmills in the sea off the Fylde Coast have received a mixed reception. County Coun David Oxley of Cleveleys welcomed the move which will see 300ft windmills positioned four miles off the town's
TWO fundraisers are looking for sponsorship to take them on a dream trip across the Himalayas. Catherine Erwin, 31, and her partner Liam Murtagh, 32, from Brownhill Road, Blackburn, need to raise £2,200 for the charity Deaf Way to qualify for the trip
WORKERS at a Blackburn engineering company claim they have been forced to do unpaid overtime or face three of their colleagues being made redundant. They say they were given the ultimatum by family-owned pattern makers S. Bateman & Sons who are based
POP superstars S Club 7 will headline a summer spectacular music festival at Ewood Park, it was revealed today. The band will join boy rockers 5ive at a special concert to raise cash for a children's charity. Other top names who have confirmed their appearance
RESIDENTS are blooming fuming again after claiming council workman mowed down more spring daffodils. The grass verge at the junction of Tower Road and Preston Old Road, Blackburn, now contains just the stalks after being cut yesterday. But council bosses
WACKY touring car driver John Batchelor secured a £100,000 sponsorship deal - by changing his name to Mr B&Q! John told the DIY giant that he would swap his own name in exchange for the major sponsorship deal. And when the company agreed he promptly
HEALTH bosses are about to resume routine TB jabs in local schools after a national shortage of the vaccine led to a two-year suspension of the scheme. East Lancashire Health Authority will begin vaccinations in the next four weeks -- and people have
COLNE remain in deep trouble second bottom of the NWCL Division Two after another night of disappointment for the Holt House side. John Lister's men put up a battling first half display only to be blown away in the seond period. Alsagar's Carl Bailey
RAMSBOTTOM United hot shot Russ Brierley has been named NWCL player of the month for March. The 28-year-old -- who won the award back in December -- grabbed 10 goals in eight games to take his tally to 30 for the season. Ramsbottom won six games to boost
TONIGHT the second of the Bunny Runs takes place at Cliffe Castle, Skipton Road, Keighley. Registration is at St Annes Social Club, about 100 yards from the Castle. Race distance is 3M and the start time is 7:15pm. All finishers will receive a Cadbury
CLAYTON athlete Craig Watson impressed as fell running returned to Britain for the first time in two months with the first of the Easter Bunny Run Races. The meeting was sanctioned by the Fell Running Association, after being switched to the grounds of
While sitting in your suburban pigeon loft, think about this. Have you a clue about farmers' lives? They have to put up with working for 21 hours a day in all conditions as well as interfering bureaucrats, trespassers, thieves and vandals. They have to
I FELT I had to say something when I read the article about "Antenna anger" (Citizen, March 29). What a load of rubbish! What is wrong with people these days? What about TV aerials, the electricity pylons, the radio and TV antennas and all the other masts
I WRITE following the article on Blackpool Zoo (Citizen, April 5). I was surprised to see the photograph of Tourism Minister Janet Anderson feeding the ring tailed lemur. Surely this is in breach of MAFF's guidelines and makes a mockery of the zoo's attempts
FROM time to time that epitome of New Labourism, James Sorah, pops up and treats us all to his special brand of spin. Mr Sorah's latest offering on the axing of some school buses did very little to enlighten ordinary residents about the true facts. His
SO Wyre Conservatives think that a 4.4 per cent inflation-busting rise in the council tax is a good deal for Wyre residents? It's hard to swallow! Coming as it does on the heels of an increase in car park charges in the borough (the Tories promised a
AS a council tax payer as well as a non-domestic ratepayer, I would like to make a few observations about the Blackpool rates bill. There has been a lot of criticism against the current rise in rates but to their credit Blackpool alone in the Lancashire
FANCY free pies for a year or £2,000 worth of holiday and clothing vouchers? Well, now here's your chance! Preston North End, in association with Outfit based on Deepdale Retail Park and Ashworth's pies, are offering fans the chance to enter a free kick
WITH North End gunning for a place in the end of season play-offs the club has made a plea for Preston fans to turn up the volume to help the team in the remaining home matches of the season. In a bid to create an intimidating atmosphere at Deepdale it
SCHOOL pupils from South Ribble hoping to take part in the council's Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) have had their hopes dashed due to the foot and mouth crisis. Dozens of teenagers from schools across the borough were expecting to welcome German schoolchildren
A TOP Fylde politician claimed this week he was banned from speaking at a crowded meeting on plans to demolish Blackpool's Golden Mile and build massive Las Vegas-style casinos. Steven Bate, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for
A JUDGE has praised the bravery of four undercover police officers who pretended to be addicts in a successful bid to rid a town of drug dealers. Four officers, known as Julia, Jane, Tom and Rob, posed as heroin and crack cocaine users and managed to
Halifax Town 1-2 Blackpool Simpson (4), Clarkson (85) Jules (50) THE Ghost is back in town! Halifax Town that is, and who else can earn the nickname Ghost but the Seasiders forgotten man Phil Clarkson. After being given his long-awaited chance in the
FOR Blackburn Rovers and their fans last night's defeat by a stoppage-time goal from 10-man leaders Fulham was a cruel blow -- coming after Rovers had dominated so much of the game that manager Graeme Souness's claim that his side are the best in the
STRICT financial prudence may have guided the decision by Colne councillors to turn down a request from church officials to take over the maintenance of the village burial ground where lies the grave of the town's greatest benefactor, Sir William Pickles
PALATINE High School unveiled the final stage of its massive £1.2 million building programme at an opening ceremony held last Friday. Soaring demand for places at the South Shore school prompted the Local Education Authority and school govenors to fund
COLLEGIATE High School's annual show, Dream Date, got off to a lively start on April 3 with an enthusiastic cast and a supportive audience. This cleverly scripted show told the tale of schoolgirl Kathy (Marie Smith) -- an avid reader of Dream Date magazine
The inquest into the death of a youth found on the railway line near Nelson station has been opened and adjourned. The hearing, at Burnley Magistrates Court, was told that Dale Stewart Turton, 20, of Hibson Road, Nelson, died of decapitation although
A SENIOR officer from the major crime unit at Lancashire police headquarters, Det Chief Insp David Brian, is moving to the Pennine Division which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. He commented: "Pennine is one of the area's best performing police
ON Sunday, March 25, I visited Pleasington Cemetery in Blackburn with my family, and what we witnessed was beyond belief because, freely strolling in the cemetery were two adult sheep and four lambs. And this when farmers are losing everything to the
CHURCH leaders will take to the streets of Leigh in September as hundreds are being urged to take part in the Searchlight festival. A number of fun events will be staged from September 5 to 9 aimed at all ages of the community. The event has been planned
COUNCILLOR Tim O'Kane (Letters, April 3) must be either very young, or very naive if he thinks that the present council tax is a better system than the poll tax. The principle of the poll tax was that everybody should pay something, and spread the burden
ONE of refereeing's greatest fallacies is the need for an early caution in order that the ref can impose both authority and control over the game. Admittedly a necessary early yellow can have a sobering effect on exuberant players, but the inherent danger
Bobby Haig's All Stars 8 Steve Moria's Select 9 BLACKBURN Hawks hero Steve Moria made a triumphant return to the Arena as he led his Select side to victory against Bobby Haig's All Stars. Legend Moria and his men won a thrilling clash 9-8 in front of
Colne and Nelson Seconds 12 Manchester Fourths 36 COLNE and Nelson can feel proud of this performance against Manchester -- and the mud! On a quagmire of a pitch, ravaged by the overnight downpour, Colne and Nelson gave as good as the got for most of
ROSE Hill Junior School completed a cross country double after winning both the boys and girls championships at Towneley Park. The girls team, led by Lancashire runner Jade Hartley, retained their team award while a fine all-round performance saw the
Punchbowl 2 James Street 1 IT was billed as the Battle of the Basement -- well to the two teams at least. For whoever lost this low-down decider would finish bottom of Division Three. With just two wins between them all season the stakes were high --
FIXTURES for Saturday Richardson Cup round two: Vickers SC v Charnock Richard; Norcross & Warbreck v Wyre Villa/Blackrod Town; Garstang v Freckleton (replay). President's Cup round two: Carnforth Rangers v Haslingden SM; Feniscowles v Blackpool Wren
BRITISH is best for busy actress and writer Carol Harrison -- and Blackpool is even better! For the former EastEnders star can't wait to bring her nine-year-old son to the seaside this month while she appears in the riotous comedy Business Affairs at
A GRANDFATHER was fighting for his life today after a thug hurled a house brick at his head. Geoffrey Swift, 36, of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, was hit outside his daughter's home in Crabtree Avenue, Edgeside. He is now on a ventilator in a serious
A DISABLED man has been left living in fear after receiving an anonymous letter which threatens to expose him as a paedophile. Alf Muir, 54, says he has been devastated by the hand-written letter which gives him two weeks to move out of his house before
TACTICS and turning points from Ewood clash TEAMS: Rovers: (3-5-2) from right to left Friedel Curtis, Berg, Short, Gillespie, Dunn, Flitcroft, Mahon, Duff Jansen, Bent Subs: Bjornebye (for Duff, 13), Berkovic (for Short, 64), Hignett (for Gillespie, 73
MIDFIELD dynamo Lee Clark hailed Fulham's last gasp victory at Ewood Park as one of his side's best performances of the season. Sean Davis's injury time winner extended the Cottagers lead at the top of the table to a huge 16 points over Rovers in second
ONE of Preston's most notorious estates looks set to house a new community facility which will bring benefits to hundreds of residents. Preston Borough Council have decided to hand over an unused and empty property on the town's Callon estate to a new
POLICE in Preston are still pushing to make the town's roads safer following a high-profile operation aimed at cracking down on the illegal use of vehicles. Officers launched Operation Delve which involved a number of agencies, including the DVLA and
A PRESTON mum is calling on parents to stop pampering their babies and get them into 'real' nappies. Mum-of-two Hilary Gregson, 34, from Fulwood, Preston, is aiming to encourage parents to dump disposables in favour of traditional wash-as-you-go nappies
A BROTHER and sister who were separated more than 30 years ago have finally been reunited last week at a tearful reunion at Manchester Airport. William Woods, 50, who now lives on Carr Field, Clayton Brook, along with his wife and two children, finally
VOLUNTARY and community groups in Preston are set to receive a cash boost as part of a £71,000 grant from Preston Borough Council. Preston Disability Information Services Centre (DISC) will receive the lion's share of the cash with a grant for £10,730
THE compere of the Citizen-sponsored Charity Variety Performance has tapped up old contacts to help make the show a success -- including Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson! Local entertainer Tony Slater (pictured) has written to the entrepreneur in the hope
VETERANS from Leyland have given their stamp of approval to the Royal Mail which is to commemorate hundreds of submariners who were killed in action. A set of Royal Mail stamps came out on Tuesday (April 10) to honour Britain's most silent service --
A SNOOKER cue signed by Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and Ken Doherty was auctioned to raise money for the Mayor of Burnley's charity fund. The two piece cue and case were given to Coun Rafique Malik by Riley Leisure Ltd, Network 65, Burnley, who then
THE success of its Black Cat award-winning beer has resulted in a £30,000 investment at Moorhouse's Brewery. The independent brewery, which has six of its own pubs in the Burnley area, is also looking to extend the number of outlets in its tied estate
FROM a senior corporate manager of a bank to a marathon runner is a transformation David Lewis never believed he would see. But with only two weeks to go until he takes part in the Flora London Marathon, he is now raring to go. And his friends and family
PROMINENT councillor Mozaquir Ali has been found guilty of breaching a council's code of conduct and banned from holding office for three years. The Liberal Democrat will not be allowed to be a member of the new executive that will rule Burnley or to
MORECAMBE'S own metric martyr is vowing to fight on despite a guilty verdict against a butcher in Sunderland who sold in pounds and ounces. John Fretwell of Fretwell's butcher's, Bare says he believes he will be prosecuted for his refusal to sell in kilogrammes
LANCASTER and District YMCA could be on the move to new premises as they try to strengthen their services. The organisation -- founded in 1879 -- wants to buy the Pye's building on Damside/Fleet Square, and is planning a major fundraising drive to raise
A MAN who admitted committing a sex offence on a 17-year-old girl has been given a conditional discharge at Preston Crown Curt. A court heard how Derek Bolton, 49, of Lucy Street, Morecambe believed the girl, who turned up at his home, was a willing participant
HOMELESSNESS charities have hit back at claims by MBI councillors that they are encouraging prison inmates to move to Morecambe. On the eve of a last ditch bid to rescue funding for the groups, Cllr Tony Wade claimed that Homeless Action was leafleting
THE Blobbygate and Salt Ayre blunders are major reasons for the city council's current financial crisis, a new report has revealed. The report by district auditor Tim Watkinson highlights the poor management of major schemes in the mid to late 1990s as
THE administrators of Morecambe's famous art deco Midland Hotel have asked Lancaster City Council if it will now compulsorily purchase the Grade II Star listed building because they cannot find a buyer for it as a hotel. Following the withdrawal of the
FUN with friends turned sour for nine-year-old Shauna Warren when she became trapped at the top of a slide for up to half an hour. The youngster, who lives in St John's Place, Nelson, had been playing on the children's area in Marsden Park at around 7pm
PRESTON College has pledged its support to grass roots football by launching a new five-a-side indoor league. The league aims to support Preston council's sports development unit and the Sport England scheme -- Active Sports Girls Soccer. John Gibson,
A PENSIONER found unconscious after falling downstairs died from a head injury, an inquest heard. Mrs Edna Tattersall, 79, may have lost her footing before the accident at her home in Cowgill Street, Earby, the hearing at Burnley Magistrates Court was
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Royal National Theatre), at Colne Municipal Hall SOMETHING unusual was on the cards with the 'Muni' being adapted to theatre in the round. Just how unusual and exciting an evening it would turn out to be came as a pleasant shock
LEYLAND has been chosen as the home for a new branch of the world's largest environmental group as part of its 40th birthday celebrations. The UK arm of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) -- formerly the Worldwide Fund for Nature -- celebrates its birthday
FOURTEEN youngsters were being questioned after vandalism on a stretch of railway in Burnley almost led to a serious accident. A large wooden cable drum was placed on the track at Gannow Junction but luckily the train driver spotted it and was able to
A GREAT-grandma who had spent years battling a series of illnesses, including cancer, celebrated her 60th birthday in style. Marion Ashcroft, of Blackburn, was whisked off to a champagne meal with her family in a Rolls Royce and was presented with a bouquet
EXPRESS Gifts, the Church-based home shopping giant, is heading for a boost in sales following a flurry of activity from its parent company Findel plc. Findel, which changed its name last year from Fine Arts Developments, has signed a four-year deal with
A DRUNKEN woman was found slumped over the steering wheel of her van as she returned from a counselling session designed to cure her of her binge drinking. Gabriel Kroger, 46, of New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when
A JUNIOR football club has been inundated with offers of help after a building containing training equipment was vandalised and ransacked. Clubs from across the area have come to the aid of JFC Dynamos so that they can now complete their mini soccer league
ARE there any absentee landlords living within earshot of student accommodation, let alone next door to them - I think not! I have experience of being kept awake at night by loud music and parties, after all they can and do sleep all day. As for parking
AS a local resident and campaigner for the NSPCC, I am writing to tell you about the Children's Manifesto. Produced by the NSPCC, Barnado's and the Child Poverty Action Group, this document sets out a blueprint for Government on children's issues. In
THE growing numbers of students at St. Martin's and the university has sparked a debate in the Citizen which might go on for a while. Multiple parking outside Lancaster's garageless terraced houses is indeed no easy task. However, much of this is due
EAST Lancashire MPs Nigel Evans and Gordon Prentice have joined forces across the political divide to tackle Home Secretary Jack Straw on the need to recruit more coloured police. Ribble Valley Tory Mr Evans asked Mr Straw to 'agree that we should do
SUMMER is getting nearer, so if you have not booked yourself a summer holiday yet - look no further than thisislancashire's website. The site has great deals in and out of the UK. To search for your ideal holiday at great prices have a look. Check out
I AM constantly reading letters of complaint about all the litter and grot spots in the area. I do agree wholeheartedly and it can sorted out as they have done in New York and Thailand. In November we had a short stay in New York and was amazed at how
WELL-CONNECTED luncheon club ladies have hit the internet with their latest charity raffle -- and pulled in a few expensive favours to provide the prizes. The super fund-raisers from the Ribble Valley, who have raised more than £120,000 for cancer research
AELFRIC the Bold is at it again, flaunting dodgy evidence as fact, and piling abuse upon insult into the bargain. His famous Oxyrynchus and Magdalene fragments may well be middle 1st century but they are still not contemporary and they still do not prove
AS A socialist and a Christian, I have followed the recent debate concerning the history of Jesus's existence with interest. However, since 'faith is the substance of things not seen,' surely arguing about this with believers is futile and irrelevant.
IT'S alien nation over the internet. Another game heavily inspired by the X-Files, it pits players against secret cabal of UG government, military and intelligence agencies attempting to conceal fridgefuls of alien corpses in area 51. The game play promises
HERON'S Reach Golf Club bade farewell to its captain, Graham Dresser at a dinner where he handed over his duties to incoming captain, Bill Scott. This annual event is a favourite fixture with the clubs 150 members and they joined guests to enjoy an informal
TRADERS at Morecambe's Festival Market have been asked if they want to set up stall in a large marquee during the punk festival weekend. The traders have branded the idea "daft" and claim that it should be the punks who use the tent leaving the festival
A LEYLAND councillor and anti-incineration campaigner has failed in his attempt to put forward a motion calling for the council to adopt a formal policy of no incinerators in South Ribble. Councillor Mark Alcock claimed both the Labour and Conservative
A CLEVELEYS pet stall is helping out an animal sanctuary in distress. Marie Ruddy and Carol Ashness, of Pampered Pets, in the Victoria Market in Victoria Road East, have been collecting donations at their stall and make weekly gifts of food to the Easterleigh
A RADICAL overhaul in healthcare provision is being planned across Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde -- and now NHS chiefs want your views. Proposals for the reform of the current Primary Care Groups (PCGs), aim to establish Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) that employ
FYLDE schools are to get a new caretaker -- in the sky! Lancashire Constabulary's Air Support Unit is launching Operation Caretaker which will soon see the force's helicopter patrolling the skies above schools across the county. The operation is taking
THE Prime Minister's decision to postpone the local elections until June has created an unlikely casualty --Thornton Cleveleys Operatic Society has been forced to cancel one of their performances of 42nd Street. Fleetwood's Marine Hall -- booked by the
NORTH West medical students will be taught at Lancaster University for the first time in collaboration with Liverpool University and Morecambe Bay Hospital Trust. The students will be coming to Lancaster to study on special intensive subject modules organised
INJURY-HIT Burnley can see light at the end of the tunnel as they prepare for a potentially make-or-break Easter weekend. The Clarets were again down to the bare bones for Tuesday night's win at Wimbledon and then also lost Gordon Armstrong with a head
COMPANIES with more than 50 employees could soon be forced to consult their employees on major business decisions. Under the Employee Consultation Rights Bill, workers must be involved with developments such as redundancies, working practices and contracts
LANCASHIRE'S Learning and Skills Council -- the new body responsible for all post-16 education and training in the County -- has won the backing of Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw. At a launch event at the Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, he told
EAST Lancashire's economy has made a promising start to the year, according to a survey undertaken by the Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Bank of Scotland. But the twin threat posed by the foot and mouth epidemic and the slow-down in the US economy,
MYSTERY surrounding the building of Darwen's millennium 'marker' is finally over. Council officials, and arts groups, including the Darwen Civic Society, have announced proposals to build a bronze woven globe to mark 2000 years of history. At a cost of
A COMPANY has unveiled a new wallpaper product that is set to revolutionise the world of DIY. After three years of research and £2million of investment, Speciality Coatings has produced Wonderwall - a new self-adhesive wall-covering. Promising no water
MYSTERY surrounding the building of Darwen's millennium 'marker' is finally over. Council officials, and arts groups, including the Darwen Civic Society, have announced proposals to build a bronze woven globe to mark 2000 years of history. At a cost of
THERE'S one question which has perplexed Citizen Smith for some years. Why does Pravda (aka our rival) so slavishly follow the mewings of a small clique of political activists? Its relentless bias in favour of a small, politically motivated group, some
AN East Lancashire company is leading the field in the production of energy bars designed not just for athletes, but for anyone needing a boost without having chance to enjoy a meal. Busy lifestyles make it difficult for many of us to sit at the breakfast
LOCAL pharmacy arrangements for the Easter period are as follows: KIRKHAM Good Friday (April 13), noon -- 1pm: Cairns Dispensing Chemist,14 Moor Street, Kirkham. Easter Sunday (April 15) and Easter Monday (April 16), noon -- 1pm: J Humber (Chemists) Ltd
A ROW has broken out in a leafy Lytham conservation area -- over plastic windows. When timber windows at the rear of 11 West Beach, opposite Lytham Green, were replaced with uPVC a complaint was made to Fylde Borough Council and planners said the plastic
STUNNING student Samantha Hearn is three times a lady after scooping the female title of The Wave's Model For The Millennium 2001 last week. Samantha, 26, from Blackpool, sashayed her way to the top spot, along with male winner Paul Coombes, at a finale
A BLACKPOOL businessman is protesting his innocence -- after police investigating an alleged fraud took away his computers and locked him and his wife in a police cell. Coin, gold and jewellery dealer Lawrence Chard, 52, says he is "shocked and upset"
THE countryside may be closed but Blackpool is well and truly open for business this Easter -- that's the message from Blackpool Borough Council's tourism department. All of the resort's attractions will be throwing open their doors to welcome visitors
FOOT and mouth has hit the Fylde farming community with 300 cattle being slaughtered today (Thursday) to try and stem the ever-increasing spread of the devastating animal disease. Derby Lodge Farm, Roseacre, near Kirkham, has been tagged a "dangerous
SCHOOL pupils from South Ribble hoping to take part in the council's Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) have had their hopes dashed due to the foot and mouth crisis. Dozens of teenagers from schools across the borough were expecting to welcome German schoolchildren
A NEW beat bobby will begin pounding the streets in one of Blackburn's crime hotspots at the end of this month. PC Steve Jenkinson is to take up the role of community policeman for the Whitebirk estate. He will be a highly visible presence on the estate
BOARDROOM battles at Enterprise plc -- the company that began life as Lancashire's job creation agency -- have cost shareholders more than £500,000 in compensation to former executive directors. A management buy-out was foiled when the board voted against
A DISABLED man has been left living in fear after receiving an anonymous letter which threatens to expose him as a paedophile. Alf Muir, 54, says he has been devastated by the hand-written letter which gives him two weeks to move out of his house before
SWIMMER Stacey Houldsworth is through to the final of the 200m freestyle after her first day of competition at the British long course championships. The Great Harwood ace is limbering up for four days of intense competition at the Commonwealth Games
RE your front page article about the Illuminations (Citizen, March 29), I am sick and tired of people discussing them and saying they are "old hat". There is one way to get round this problem and that is to charge £1 per car and £5 per coach. This would
WELL, by gum! I've really upset James Sorah, haven't I (Letters, March 29). And why? Well, in fact, I've dared to criticise those in the town hall for whom Mr Sorah acts as chief cheer leader. I accused them of being irresponsible in jeopardising the
CLOCKWORK dummies, unable to make decisions until wound up by Brussels and told what to do -- this describes our Government and Ministry of Agriculture in their handling of the foot and mouth outbreak. In fairness perhaps we should not attribute all the
THE Captive Animals' Protection Society proved beyond doubt that Blackpool Zoo is putting the lives of animals at risk, and yet we are accused of being irresponsible! (Citizen, April 5) Our supporter, who has never been to the zoo before and is unknown
PRESTON meet David Platt's Forest side on Saturday (April 14) in what will undoubtedly be a 'crunch' game in more ways than one. The last time the two sides met in November there were four goals, a 20-man brawl, two penalties, two red cards and a whole
