AN armed robber told staff to "have a nice day" after pointing a gun at an insurance clerk during a terrifying raid on a building society agency in Haslingden. Two robbers, both wearing baseball caps and sunglasses, struck at Steven Barton Financial Services
THOUSANDS of Lancashire's poorest families were boycotting school meals after a social security shake-up. In East Lancashire the number of primary school children having a school meal had dropped by up to thirty per cent since Easter. A change to benefits
GLEN Chapple believes he can force his way back into the England frame. The 24-year-old paceman, touted as international material two years ago, has been left behind after a disappointing campaign last summer, but he served up a reminder of his all-round
REGARDING fluoride in our water, I only have one kidney and, to live, I have to drink. And when I say drink, I mean at least eight pints of liquid a day. I was told years ago that the kidney would never be able to cope with the amount of fluoride I would
LOWERHOUSE professional Matthew Mott is to join Victoria for their 1998/99 Sheffield Shield campaign. Victoria swooped for the left-hander after a lack of first team opportunities at Queensland prompted him to look for a move. "A few people at Queensland
IT was with horror that I read your story (LET, May 18) about a motorcyclist being killed in a crash with a Nissan Patrol on the A682 road at Blacko. I also travelled over the A65 and A682 that day and was extremely intimidated by the speed and foolhardiness
IN reply to Ms Marlene Disley's comments (Letters, April 24) on Burnley Council's proposal to consult tenants regarding a potential transfer of council housing to a new council-and-tenant-created landlord, the reason it is considering the sale of its
Political Focus, with Bill Jacobs Tony Blair had been due to reshuffle his Cabinet this week, but has postponed the shake-up. July is now favourite for the remodelling of his top team, but influential advisers are now urging him to wait longer - until
TEENAGE sensation Jim Corbett has arrived at Ewood Park as the first part of Rovers' summer recruitment drive. The 17-year-old Gillingham winger has agreed a five-year contract with a further two year option after Rovers agreed to pay the Second Division
WORKS manager Martin Hill MBE is to retire at the end of May. Martin has worked for ICI for the 34 years, the last 14 at the firm's Clitheroe Katalco plant. He also holds a number of voluntary posts including chairman of the board of East Lancashire Careers
A TEAM of aerospace workers have won a second transatlantic pat on the back. Employees at British Aerospace Samlesbury won the award from Boeing for its work in setting up a transfer of rear fuselage installation work on T45 Goshawks used by the US Navy
FIRMS in East Lancashire face major problems unless they look to recruit more workers from ethnic minorities, a conference will hear next month. Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw will be the main speaker at an event aimed at addressing the issue
RADICAL calls to scrap the monarchy in its current form were issued by Blackburn MP Jack Straw. His controversial proposals included a more accountable, slimmed-down monarchy, with firm guidelines on its role. He also attacked the honours system, claiming
A 91-YEAR-OLD council tenant who is regularly forced to climb seven flights of stairs to get home claims it will take a tragedy before something is done about a faulty intercom and broken lifts. Mrs Lynette Holden, above, who is known locally as Lenny
YOUNG children at a special school now have better facilities following criticisms in an official report. Broadlands Special School, Blackburn, which caters for 36 three to five-year-olds with learning difficulties, was criticised by inspectors from the
A TOP Jesuit college near Clitheroe has been praised for having the "finest buildings of any school in the world". Inspectors from the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, the public schools' equivalent of Ofsted, also described Stonyhurst College
NORTH West health chiefs have come under fire from the government for the highest hospital waiting lists outside London. And the region has been given a year to cut 20,000 patients from the list or see their jobs taken over by hit squads. Health secretary
CONTROVERSIAL plans to cut the winter road gritting programme across East Lancashire have been given the green light despite protests and claims it would lead to more deaths. In spite of fierce opposition from Liberal county councillors and a 1,500-name
DARWEN have been stunned by professional Nikhil Chopra's call-up for a triangular tournment in India. But they have moved quickly to secure the services of Rishton's South African spin bowling professional Corrie Jordaan as deputy for tomorrow's league
DETECTIVES believe they will never know what went through a father's mind the moment he cut his young sons' throats in a brutal knife attack. Chef Stephen Schofield, 33, pleaded guilty yesterday to the attempted murder of Daniel Shankly Schofield, seven
INVESTIGATION is pending as to the preservation and reinstatement of the attractive and distinguishing Gothic-style chimney stacks of Gothic House, St James' Street, Accrington (LET, May 16). As with any building of whatever period, the chimney is an
IN reply to Mr Norman Pickles' remarks in 'Freemasons not Godless' (Letters, May 15), how can they claim to be Christians, when they deny the faith's founder, Jesus Christ. Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father
TODAY, is Ireland's historic day of destiny - when its people north and south of the border vote on the Good Friday deal to determine the future of Northern Ireland. And, after a generation of bloodshed and centuries of sectarian hate, it is, in many
THE arrival of the scanner at Blackburn Infirmary (LET, May 18) has brought joy to many East Lancashire doctors who have fought and stood behind Blackburn Trust to introduce magnetic resonance imaging into Blackburn. This is the most powerful diagnostic
IMAGINE the plight of 91-year-old widow Mrs Lynette Holden. If someone comes to visit her, she has to go down seven flights of stairs to let them in and then climb seven flights back up again. At her age, she ought not be subjected to such a trial. But
Ron Freethy's postbag IN a recent article I wrote about the history of clogs and asked for readers memories of these versatile and comfortable items of footwear. More than 30 readers have added to my knowledge and just a few are mentioned here. Ernest
Friday Folk THE wide open plains of the USA beckon for a Rawtenstall woman who has given up her job because she's got the travel bug. Denise Hatton, 29, has fulfilled every workers' dream by leaving her job at Asda in Grimshaw Park, Blackburn, after having
STAN TERNENT remains favourite to land the Burnley manager's job despite his assertion that he won't walk out on Bury, writes PETE OLIVER . Ternent has indicated that it would take the permission of the Bury board for him to take on the Clarets job if
