A Ghost Investigation Night takes place at Samlesbury Hall, Preston New Road, on December 2, with a chance to enjoy an exciting and chilling exploration into spirit contact and hauntings. In association with UK Haunted Heritage Tours the event aims to
A camp Christmas extravaganza of song, dance, comedy and mayhem awaits you. Cheerleaders, drag queens, road workers and tall ships combine with stage and video productions to create the Red Ribbon Cabaret. Billed as one of the biggest, maddest shows of
CORONER Michael Singleton did us all a service by writing to the Highways Agency to tell them of his worries about the positioning of the rumble strip on the M65 and its closeness to the lowered central reservation. After inquest evidence following a
A SUBWAY linking Blackburn train station with a new cinema and bowling alley remains sealed off -- two weeks after the new leisure development opened. The subway, funded by Blackburn with Darwen Council, was built to link the town centre with Lower Audley
OUR passports are going to cost more from next month, what a Christmas present that is. They are going up by 21 per cent from £42 to £51, so in two years the price has gone up by 48 per cent. They say it's to pay for anti-fraud measures etc, but why did
ITS great that youngsters like 12-year-old Amber McKeefery are getting involved in local arts projects such as that provided by the recently closed Valley Arts Centre in Brunswick Street, Darwen (Letters, November 29). I visited the centre earlier this
DOCTORS are battling to save two men following a fight over Christmas presents at a house in Nelson. Police and paramedics were called to two addresses in Chapel Street at shortly after 3.30pm on Saturday after a four-year-old girl ran to a neighbour
How the Rovers' players fared in the home defeat to Everton. FRIEDEL: A breakdown in communication left him in no man's land for the opener. 6 NEILL: Started off brightly but the sending off curbed his attacking instincts. 7 NELSEN: Lost a vital aerial
BLACKBURN Rovers will decide in the next 24 hours whether to appeal against the red card shown to Andy Todd during Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Everton. Todd was controversially dismissed by referee Mark Halsey after the ball struck his hand when James Beattie
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes struggled to keep his emotions in check after Mark Halsey sent off one of his players for the second time this season. The Bolton official, who was responsible for dismissing Zurab Khizanishvili during Rovers' 1-0 defeat at
EAST Lancashire's top hospital boss is pleased people are speaking out over controversial shake-up plans -- even if it means managers' arguments are "not believed". Jo Cubbon, chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, was speaking ahead
A SHORTLIST has been drawn up of regeneration specialists to spearhead the next phase of the huge overhaul of housing in Burnley. Burnley Council has approached three developers about the possibility of implementing a series of masterplans under the multi-million
...According to the man responsible for granting Lancaster's first 24-hour liquor licence. From last weekend, the nation's drink laws changed in the biggest alcohol shake-up for more than a century. And that led to fears that the streets could see fueding
HYNDBURN is the best in the North West for recycling. Statistics released by the GMB, Britain's general union, show that 13.8 per cent of the total tonnage of household waste was recycled throughout 2003/04. That puts Hyndburn top of the league in the
HYNDBURN Council is backing a tree planting scheme which has already spent more than £400,000 on creating woodland in the borough. The council, along with other East Lancashire authorities and voluntary organisations, has signed up to a partnership agreement
CUSTOMERS today hit out at shop bosses who closed a high street opticians -- leaving many people hundreds of pounds out of pocket. Super-Specs in Broadway, Accrington, closed its doors two weeks ago without any warning. One shopper, Phillip Holden, 50
SOAP star Julie Hesmondhalgh has marked the end of a massive refurbishment project at a Hyndburn charity's base. Maundy Relief, which helps the homeless, has spent more than £40,000 on Maundy Grange in Accrington thanks to donations from firms across
AN EAST Lancashire MP's plan to make new housing estates safer places by getting developers to consult with police has been sunk. Today a furious Nigel Evans attacked Labour ministers and back benchers for scuppering his Private Members Bill to ensure
IT IS not always pleasant getting up for work at 4 am in all weathers, delivering only 99.8 per cent of mail correctly. However, it seems that is not enough for our own local loud-mouthed critic Citizen Smith, judging by his cruel and sweeping comments
LET no-one think that Blackburn fans are not generous to a fault. Last week I was in Malta, where the British High Commissioner is Vincent Fean, an otherwise fine diplomat who also has to carry the heavy load of being a Burnley fan. Such is his standing
STEVE Cotterill backed Dave Bassett and Dennis Wise to be a success if they get the nod to replace old pal Harry Redknapp at Southampton. The Burnley manager was disappointed to miss out on a dug-out duel with his close friend after Redknapp quit the
LANCASTER City star Stuart Howson is at the centre of an astonishing FA cock-up after football's governing body handed him a three-match ban - even though he had done nothing wrong. The 24-year-old defender, who has never been sent off in his career,
Will hasn't taken the dramatic new direction that the single Switch It On suggested. Keep On is more of the jazzy and soul-inspired pop he has made his own. But this is his strongest set yet, with a number of highlights including the quirky Madness and
STEVE Cotterill insists that speculation linking him with a move to join Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth will not sidetrack his attempts to keep Burnley in the play off picture. The Clarets boss was pounced on by the south coast media following Saturday's
BEN, Jon, Matt and Mike -- aka the X Factor operatic quartet -- return with their second album, featuring new renditions of Christina Aguilera's Beautiful, Coldplay's Yellow and collaborations with Lesley Garrett (Barcelona), Cliff Richard (Miss You Nights
BLACKBURN Rovers will decide in the next 24 hours whether to appeal against the red card shown to Andy Todd during Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Everton. Todd was controversially dismissed by referee Mark Halsey after the ball struck his hand when James Beattie
Misty's Big Adventure are a messy, eclectic pop band, an utterly eccentric dollop of smile inducing fun with melodies that'll make you grin like an idiot for hours. They play Feedback in Lancaster on December 9. MBA's new album, The Black Hole, has recently
IT'S been quite a year for New York singer and songwriter Rufus Wainwright, who plays Preston on December 11. After touring Europe with Brit indie outfit Keane in March, then spending the rest of the year touring on his own instead of having a well-deserved
IT'S Ozzy as you've never heard him before. Paying tribute to his personal favourites, the Prince of Darkness's new album features newly recorded versions of his most-loved songs, with stand-out tracks being John Lennon's Woman, Joe Walsh's Rocky Mountain
THE Darkness are back on track with a rock album that's even stronger than their successful debut, Permission To Land. Justin Hawkins' falsetto makes a return, along with his cheeky lyrics, full of humour and honesty. Strongly influenced by Queen, the
Your diary of the big gigs coming to Lancashire soon, including the likes of Doves, Shakin' Stevens, Saw Doctors, The Coral, Australian Pink Floyd, The Magic Numbers, The Levellers and Fun Lovin' Criminals. DECEMBER 5 The Saw Doctors, Dome, Morecambe,
This brass-heavy cut from the mighty 'Erbs new album Take London almost sounds a little too typical of their perfected brand of instrumental hip hop to stand out. But there are two fabulous saving graces. The first reason to be cheerful is the presence
A DISTRAUGHT mum today told of her shock after her son was found dead outside his friend's flat. Police have said they are looking into the death of Gordon Page, who was discovered in Hawthorne Avenue, Darwen, at about 9.30am on Saturday. The 37-year-old
A TEENAGER from Darwen could be hailed a national treasure after reaching the finals of a national awards scheme. Zoe Cardoo, 17, has impressed all around her by turning her back on crime and anti-social behaviour to become a respectable member of her
A HUSBAND and wife were left devastated after thousands of pounds of jewellery was stolen in a burglary. The couple, who are too afraid of reprisals to be named, have appealed through the police for the return of their items following the raid at their
CALLUM Davidson scored his third goal in as many games as North End climbed into the play-off zone at Burnley's expense. Davidson, a £1.75m buy for Rovers in 1998 who went on to make 64 league starts and scored just one goal, has now hit four in 33 since
The costumes are ready, the rehearsals are drawing to an end and the set has now arrived which means this year's Citizen-sponsored Christmas panto', Peter Pan, is ready for take off. Swashbuckling times are ahead at Preston's Charter Theatre, Lancaster
A BANNED driver who got behind the wheel while twice the limit -- and then tried to claim he was his brother -- has been jailed. Carl McKenzie, 27, had repeatedly flouted driving laws and had no respect for the courts or for people he put at risk, a court
THE Blackburn Partnership has launched its annual Christmas Challenge campaign to collect gifts for the underprivileged. The Partnership, now known as Community and Business Partners, is looking for new toys, tinned and non-perishable foods, selection
SO now 24-hour drinking has been ordained by the Ministry of Culture. How do you equate culture with boozing for heavens sake? Culture has to do with refinement and good taste in every sphere of life, not binge boozing by drunken morons. Of course, this
HIGHWAYS bosses have dismissed calls to repair a stretch of the M65 made after a man was killed in a horror road smash. Timothy Watkins died when his car skidded up an embankment into a lamp-post. And at an inquest into the tragedy, East Lancashire coroner
A TEENAGE soldier from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment has died after being hit by a car in Cyprus. The 18-year-old was so badly injured that Army bosses were to carry out a DNA test to confirm his identity. Police said the incident happened just after
DOZENS of Muslim pupils were given ham pizza for their school dinner, even though their religion forbids them from eating pig meat. Education bosses have been criticised for the "disgusting" error at St James' Church of England Primary School, Oozebooth
Blackburn Rovers face a difficult trip to Middlesbrough in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup but manager Mark Hughes is confident his players can win the tie. "It's a difficult draw for us but we went to Charlton and got a positive result so there's
IT'S safe to assume referee Mark Halsey will not be receiving a Christmas card from Mark Hughes this year. Two months ago, the Bolton official, who enjoys doling out cards himself, drew Hughes' ire when he sent off Zurab Khizanishvili for what he wrongly
THIRTY new jobs are to be created in Morecambe after insurance giants AXA won the contract to underwrite Lloyds TSB's travel insurance. The deal kicks in on February 1 next year and as a result AXA will be creating the 30 jobs in its travel claims teams
LANCASTER is to be painted pink as the city's first ever Pride Festival takes place - with thousands set to enjoy the party. Organisers from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are now making last-minute arrangements for the nine-day
A PET owner has blasted dognappers as disgusting' after paying a £500 ransom to get her pet pooches back. Rachel Smith was gutted after her prized Lakeland Terriers Griz and Manic were snatched and bundled into the back of a white van last Tuesday while
PARENTS are demanding that a playground be fixed after two tots broke bones while playing. Residents of Gregory Court, Hala, say they are disgusted that they cannot let their kids use the play equipment for fear they may hurt themselves. Mum Debbie Hargreaves
A LANCASTER charity is asking local people to remember the homeless as Christmas approaches and temperatures plummet. Lancaster Christmas Shelter will be running for its 19th year at St Thomas Church, Lancaster, throughout the festive season. It aims
DOCTORS are battling to save two men following a fight over Christmas presents at a house in Nelson. Police and paramedics were called to two addresses in Chapel Street at shortly after 3.30pm on Saturday after a four-year-old girl ran to a neighbour
These three Wakefield brothers have been wowing live audiences up and down the UK for two years now. The big guns have come on board for this double A-sided pop snarl from the defiantly independent trio. You're Gonna Lose Us was produced by Bernard Butler
CAN it really be over 25 years since Blondie burst into our pop consciousness? Judging by last night's show they are as fresh and as focused as ever, rolling back the years with a performance that really rocked. This was no band just 'going through the
A SUPERMARKET car park may be turned into a pay-and-display. The car park belonging to Booths, Station Road, Clitheroe, is currently free for store customers, but the supermarket now wants the council to take over its running. Under plans agreed in principle
A house buyer assaulted the vendor at the end of what developed into a bitter wrangle. Magistrates heard Alfred Horn changed his mind about selling after agreeing a price, after the buyer had paid for a survey and invited the buyer to come round with
JUDGING by the Citizen article on Frontierland (Citizen, November 16), Jim Catterall and Evelyn Archer are in danger of becoming the Basil and Sybil Fawlty of Morecambe. Mr Catterall objects to any development but leisure uses, selecting the 80 bed hotel
I READ the article headed 'Death sentence' in the Citizen of November 16 with some dismay. Since buying a house in Morecambe it seems obvious to me that once the Midland Hotel is redeveloped then the missing piece in the jigsaw is the decrepit area where
Colin Hendry's familiar mane of golden hair was first glimpsed at Bloomfield Road as a player back in the autumn of 2002. when Steve McMahon needed an experienced campaigner to shore up the defence and Hendry, who lived a short hop away from the Seasiders
Burnley will fancy their chances of progressing to the fourth round with an away trip to Derby County. The Clarets must travel to the fellow Championship side's Pride Park ground for a tie which will be played on the weekend of 6th, 7th and 8th January
How the Clarets' players fared in the draw at St Mary's. JENSEN: Had little to do, but did it with a calming confidence 7 LOWE: Again impressive at right back and later in the centre 8 SINCLAIR: Yet another example of the skipper leading by example 9
STEVE Cotterill insists that speculation linking him with a move to join Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth will not sidetrack his attempts to keep Burnley in the play off picture. The Clarets boss was pounced on by the south coast media following Saturday's
JUST when Southampton thought things couldn't get any worse, Burnley rolled into town! News of Harry Redknapp's dramatic departure was the only thing on the minds of legions of fans' at St Mary's, where the majority hurled a torrent of abuse at their
Burscough chairman Chris Lloyd is dreaming of an FA Cup third round clash with Manchester United - and the possibility of the tie being played at his beloved Liverpool. The UniBond League Premier Division side, who have former Rovers midfielder Liam Blakeman
The acclaimed Lancashire Sinfonietta returns to Lancaster on December 8 with two early works by Haydn and a string composition from Stravinsky. Under the direction of Lyn Fletcher, leader of the Hall Orchestra and a popular soloist at Hall concerts, they
AWAY In A Manger, Silent Night . . . ahh, they bring back memories of the school choir. But in Blackpool on December 18 there's a chance to celebrate Christmas without earplugs or the numbing effects of one too many sherries because the Manchester Chamber
Half-Lancastrian electro foursome Performance have been chart stars in waiting for the last few years, and finally look like fulfilling that pop potential having snagged themselves a major label deal. The first fruits of their spell with Polydor, Surrender
The Saw Doctors, who came together in the small town of Tuam, in the west of Ireland, in 1987, play Morecambe on December 5. We spoke to keyboardist and accordionist Derek Murray. The band's first hit, N17, paved the way for the band whose hit singles
A solicitor from Darwen has urged divorced parents to plan Christmas carefully, with the message "don't feed the kids Brussels sprouts twice". Although the point is light-humoured, Lesley Halliwell, based in Belgrave Chambers in the town, said there was
A 17-year-old girl standing in a taxi queue was picked up from behind by her ankles spun round and then thrown to the floor. Blackburn magistrates heard her assailant then tore off his shirt and shouted at the girl and her brother to come and hit him.
A BLACKBURN actor today revealed how despite being given the cold shoulder by one of soap land's hottest stars he is glad to see the back of Coronation Street. Sushil Chadasama, who played Sarah Louise Platt's boyfriend, Scooter, told producers after
DOZENS of Muslim pupils were given ham pizza for their school dinner, even though their religion forbids them from eating pig meat. Education bosses have been criticised for the "disgusting" error at St James' Church of England Primary School, Oozebooth
