ANOTHER major shake-up of the magistrates courts system in East Lancashire has been criticised by a senior county councillor and a former MP. Ministry of Justice bosses have confirmed Burnley, Pendle and Magistrates Court will no longer take custody cases from May 1. Remand hearings and sentencings potentially involving prison terms will then take place at Blackburn, according to the HM Courts Service.
Category: Lancashire County, England
Armed police deployed after reports disturbances and ‘man with machete’
ARMED police were deployed in Burnley earlier today after reports of a significant disturbance and a reported sighting of a machete. Police said at around 3pm today they had received several reports of disturbances involving a number of men at a house and on the area outside on Stroyan Street, close to Brunshaw Road, Burnley.
County show returns to venue
THE Royal Lancashire Show is returning to one of its traditional sites this summer after last year’s event was held in Blackburn. The organiser has announced the event will be returning to Salesbury Hall which has hosted a number of successful shows in the past, the most recent being in 2015.
Historic former Blackburn church to host major beer festival
More than 30 ales will be on offer at Holy Trinity Church in Mount Pleasant, Blackburn, on April 22 and 23. The Grade II-listed gothic structure, built between 1837 and 1846, has been empty for more than 30 years since it closed as a place of worship in 1981. The festival, with free entrance, is the latest in a series of events designed bring life back to the church.
Murderer on the run after escaping from prison officers during visit to hospital
Shaun Walmsley, 28, who police are hunting after two armed men helped him escape custody while on a hospital visit in Liverpool. A murderer who was serving a minimum of 30 years in prison is on the run after two armed men helped him escape during an escorted hospital visit.
Murderer on the run after escaping from prison officers during visit to hospital
Shaun Walmsley, 28, who police are hunting after two armed men helped him escape custody while on a hospital visit in Liverpool. A murderer who was serving a minimum of 30 years in prison is on the run after two armed men helped him escape during an escorted hospital visit.
Brothers burst into pizza shop and hit family members with bat and hammer in honour attack
TWO brothers carried out a brutal ‘honour attack’ with a baseball bat and hammer as a family dined at a pizza shop. Burnley Crown Court heard Khalil Hussain, 24, and Munir Ali Hussain, 35, burst into Planet Pizza in Croft Street, Burnley, to settle an ‘honour feud’.
Boy, 13, took car for a joyride in Darwen
A 13-YEAR-OLD took a car without the owner’s consent and went on a joyride in Darwen, a court has heard. Blackburn magistrates heard how the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons but is from Darwen, took the Fiat Panda car on January 5. He pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
Family doctors looking to end perscriptions for minor illnesses to save money
PATIENTS are set to be told to pay for their own medication in a bid to save hundreds of thousands of pounds. Plans have been unveiled by Blackburn with Darwen CCG to recoup A 663,000 per year by refusing to prescribe everything from pain relief and indigestion medication to head lice treatments, anti-histamines and sun creams.
Service cuts number of ‘NEET’ teenagers in Blackburn with Darwen
THE number of teens classed as not in education, employment and training in Blackburn with Darwen is falling thanks to a new team, figures show. Council-run service New Directions, which launched earlier this year, offers programmes and careers advice to youngsters who are at risk of falling out of education or training when they finish their GCSEs.
JAILED: Teenager had regular sex with 12-year-old girl he met on Facebook
Burnley Crown Court heard how 18-year-old Jack Simpson was fully aware of the girl’s age at the time of the interactions and only stopped when he was warned off by her social worker. The court was told that Simpson, who was between the ages of 16 and 17 during the four-month period of offending, was in a relationship with the girl and that the sex was consensual.
Met Office issues yellow warning for snow and wind across Lancashire
It’s about to get very chilly and the Met Office has just confirmed it by issuing a yellow weather warning for the north-west of England today . The warning, which advises those affected to ‘be aware’, has been issued as snow showers are expected to develop from Wednesday evening lasting into Thursday.
Important travel information – Wirral line closure
Liverpool FC would like to remind fans using Wirral Line rail services to travel to Anfield on a matchday that this service will be affected for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. This is due to the Wirral loop line track renewal taking place from Tuesday January 3 to Sunday June 18. Services on the Northern Line will not be impacted.
Cancer survivor Helen awards her own New Year’s honour
A Clitheroe cancer survivor is entering into the spirit of the New Year Honour’s list by awarding a special tribute of her own – to her husband and child. The official list celebrates the achievements of outstanding men and women.
Woman in court after stealing cat food
A woman who stole cleaning products and cat food from B and M in Colne, had mental health issues, a court heard. Martin, of Roundell Road, Barnoldswick, admitted theft. She was given a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay 85 costs and a 20 victim surcharge.
Blackburn with Darwen Council to replace 52 ageing pay and display machines
BLACKBURN with Darwen Council will start replacing its 52 ageing pay and display car parking machines across the borough early next year. Cllr Kay said: “This is case of investing to save money in future from increased income and reduced maintenance costs.”
Blackburn man caught – driving’ for drug dealer makes fishy claim
A 30-YEAR-OLD man caught ‘driving’ for a drug dealer claimed he was only doing it because the man had promised to invest in his fish and chip shop. Blackburn magistrates heard that since the offences in May Yasser Mahmood had obtained funding from another source and was running a takeaway business in Preston.
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Churches will be holding Christingles and midnight mass on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day services. Children can bring a noiseless toy to St Andrews Church, Worden Lane, Leyland, Sunday from 10.30am.
Traders have their say on proposed market redevelopment
Over 40 businesses had their say at a get-together on the proposed 9m. redevelopment of the Clitheroe Market site.
Post Office strike will affect local town store
Talks between the company and the Communication Workers Union have broken down and five days of industrial action will begin on Monday. Chorley’s Cleveland Street site is the only remaining ‘Crown’ post office which will be affected by the proposed stoppages.