Latest news with #EastLancashire
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Four friends to take on tough obstacle course for East Lancs Hospice
A team of four lifelong friends will be taking on one of the UK's toughest endurance events next month to raise money for East Lancashire Hospice — a cause close to all of their hearts. Dan Cooper, 41, from Darwen, will once again be joined by Mark Newman and Alex Hooley, both 42 and from Blackburn — and this year they're being joined by a fourth teammate, Stuart Purkis, 42, also from Blackburn. The childhood friends will be putting themselves through the Born Survivor 10km obstacle course at Gisburn on September 13. Last year, the trio raised nearly £1,500 for the hospice — smashing their original £1,000 goal — and this time they're aiming to hit at least the same amount. L-R: Dan, Stuart, Alex, and Mark (Image: Dan Cooper) Dan said: 'Five minutes after the last one, we all said it was the hardest thing any of us have done physically. However, it was the most fulfilling because of what we're doing it for.' Each of the four has a personal connection to East Lancashire Hospice. 'My best friend's mum died prematurely, but they looked after her really well in her final weeks,' Dan explained. 'Alex's wife's nan was also there for her final weeks. They look after people really well in the tough times.' East Lancashire Hospice provides essential end-of-life care for patients and their families across Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn, and the Ribble Valley, and needs to raise around £4 million annually to continue its work. READ MORE: Free summer lunches for kids in East Lancs family hubs READ MORE: East Lancs Hospice volunteer honoured at Muslim News awards 'This year one of our other childhood friends said he'd do it with us, so there's four of us — it's grown a little bit!' Dan said. 'We all grew up together in the same area and have been lifelong friends, so it's extra special to do it together.' The challenge sees participants tackle over 30 brutal obstacles — including mud pits, water tunnels, and high climbs — all designed to test endurance and teamwork. 'We started training a bit earlier this year and gone a bit harder because we know what's coming,' Dan said. 'When you get over 40 it's a bit harder to keep all the joints nice and supple and things like that!' 'If we can match last year's total, that's the aim — and anything more is a bonus.' To support the team, search for Lammack Lads on JustGiving.
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Daily Mail
'Army' of police shut down crime boss 'Hotdog' Smith's house on illegal scrapyard as wife says she will be forced to live 'in a TENT'
A 'small army' of police surrounded and shut down a crime boss's illegal home and scrapyard this week as his wife sat by in despair in a move she says will force her to 'live in a tent'. Underworld figure Tommy 'Hotdog' Smith was jailed in 2019 for his role in a nationwide stolen goods and money laundering racket following a covert police operation. While he remains behind bars, Mr Smith's wife Mary was living in a detached eight-bedroom house built on a scrapyard they own in Great Harwood, East Lancashire. But on Monday morning around a dozen police vehicles and 20 uniformed cops descended upon the site on Meadow Street and locked it off, ending years of misery for fed up locals. The vast scrapyard to the back of the house had been at the centre of a growing row following repeated instances of antisocial behaviour, criminal activity and countless fires, prompting fury among nearby residents. Police said 'illegal activity' has been taking place at the sprawling yard, which is also home to a collection of static caravans and stables. One fire linked to the site burned for days and took firefighters 240 hours to put out. One local mum compared the police presence to a 'small army' and said: 'We all know who Tommy is. There has been all sorts going on down there for years, with lots of fires. Let's just say he is a bit of a character.' After a judge granted a closure order on the site, mother-of-four Mrs Smith complained that the order would effectively leave her and her family homeless. Her legal team argued that members of the Smith family should be allowed to live at the house, and that the fires were caused by tenants, according to Lancs Live. The 48-year-old told the court she and her 19-year-old daughter Indiana had purchased a 'two-man tent' and 'that is all', to which the judge asked: 'You have a £1.4million turnover and you are going to live in a tent?' Mrs Smith refuted this, telling Judge Guy Mathieson: 'I don't know what you are talking about, I don't own any business. Sir, I think you have got it wrong. 'My husband has been in jail for the past seven years, I haven't had any business for at least six years.' She argued she has even had to begin claiming benefits, however had not provided any paperwork to support this claim. Mrs Smith's appeal against the order was rejected during the hearing at Preston Crown Court. On Monday, when MailOnline visited the site, the mum was seen wearing a tracksuit, crouched on a kerb outside her home spending much of the time on her phone. When approached by MailOnline she said: 'Some members of the press have violated our personal information. I have no further comment to make.' Earlier in the day a burly man in a tracksuit, who was seen shadow boxing with pals, said to the Mail: 'Mary is not very happy which is no surprise. The newspapers will get nothing from me so why don't you just f*** off.' Officers boarded up the front door to the large detached house, which featured two Roman style stone lions at the entrance. The court order granted by Judge Mathieson prohibits anyone from entering or remaining on the Meadow Street site for three months from July 4 at the risk of arrest, imprisonment and or a fine. The notice reads: 'The owner/occupier will therefore have to find alternative accommodation.' A local councillor who asked not to be named said to the Mail: 'The closure order was the culmination of a long running saga at the scrap yard. 'There have been numerous fires and other issues over recent years. This is now a multi-agency matter involving the police, council, RSPCA and other bodies. 'Unfortunately this appears to be a criminal operation and there is a degree of fear and intimidation around these people. Individuals brave enough to have spoken out have been targeted in the past. Although he is in prison there are still some dangerous people involved.' The couple bought the site on Meadow Street for around £8,000 in 1996. A planning application to build a house on the site was approved in 2010. Smith was jailed for five years in 2017 after police seized a sawn-off shotgun while executing a warrant at his home. He was jailed for six and a half years in 2019 following a complex police operation into stolen goods and money laundering. Preston Crown Court heard how some of the stolen items were tagged under the account name 'Hot Dog Tom'. Mary Smith was jailed for 15 months as part of the same prosecution. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to handle stolen goods and money laundering. Detective Inspector Vinnie De Curtis, of Lancashire Police, said officers 'unearthed a widespread and deliberate conspiracy to steal machinery, vehicles and stock amounting to thousands of pounds' in 2017 linked to Tommy Smith and his associates. 'The audacity of those involved in stealing these items was staggering, with the goods often taken from within secure compounds before being sold on, or taken to auction,' he said. The Mail approached Lancashire Police for a comment on the activity which took place on Monday. A spokesperson said: 'We have served a closure order at an illegal waste site in Great Harwood. 'The order prevents anybody entering or remaining on land at The Oaks on Meadow Street for the next three months. 'Our officers went onto the site yesterday (7th July) with partners to serve the order and ensure it was fully complied with. There were no incidents of any note. 'The closure order was sought after numerous concerns were raised about illegal activity on the site, with significant impact being felt by the local community due to the illegal burning of waste. 'By working closely with partners, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Hyndburn Borough Council and the Environment Agency, we were able to take legal action.' The order, under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, was initially granted at Lancaster Magistrates' Court on 18th February. However, it was postponed after the respondent was granted leave to appeal. That appeal was heard by a Judge at Preston Crown Court on Friday and was refused. ACC Stasia Osiowy, of Lancashire Police said: 'I welcome the granting of this closure order which is the right outcome for a community which has been affected for a long period of time by illegal activity from a set of individuals who believe the law doesn't apply to them. 'I fully understand the frustration felt by local residents and businesses who were impacted by illegal activity sometimes on a daily basis. 'We have been working hard with our partners behind the scenes to bring a resolution to this issue, however we have not always been able to talk about it publicly. 'I hope the serving of this closure order today and our presence at the site yesterday reassures the public that where we identify criminal behaviour of any kind we will work with our partners to bring it to an end. 'The action is part of Op Centurion, which is county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour, led by Lancashire Constabulary and backed by the Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, delivering his Fighting Crime Plan priority of getting tough on anti-social behaviour, with the support of our partners.' Mr Grunshaw said: 'The closure of this site marks a significant and long overdue step forward for the local community. 'Residents have endured persistent anti-social behaviour, criminality, and disruption linked to this location and I commend the coordinated efforts of Lancashire Constabulary and our partners in taking decisive action. 'This outcome demonstrates the power of partnership and the importance of listening to residents' concerns, who have campaigned tirelessly for action. 'Tackling anti-social behaviour is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and Operation Centurion is delivering real results by holding offenders to account and restoring confidence in our communities. 'I want to thank everyone involved in bringing this case to court and securing this outcome.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
People urged to give money to local charities rather than beggars
A campaign has been launched in East Lancashire to encourage people to donate to local charities rather than giving money to with Darwen Council said backing organisations offering "real, long-term support" would help vulnerable people, some of whom have addiction or mental health Crook, chief executive of the support charity Rummage Rescuers, said she knows of "professional beggars [whose] aim is get as much money as possible out of local people".She added: "By giving cash to beggars on the street, you don't know where [it] is going. It could be for alcohol, it could be for drugs and I think it's a better safeguarding strategy not to give them money." 'Change their lives' Councillor Damian Talbot, executive member for housing and health at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We know that many people give to those begging on the streets with the best of intentions. "But we want to ensure that support reaches the right people in the right way, helping vulnerable residents access services that can change their lives."Audrey Gaskell, from Clitheroe, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "You're better off giving to charities."If they're genuine I don't mind, but if they're on drugs or something, that's my problem."David Waddington, from Burnley, said: "I don't give them money. I always buy them a coffee or a sausage roll or something."The Change for Change - Make Your Kindness Count campaign brings together seven local charities and are Community CVS, THOMAS, Nightsafe, Blackburn Foodbank, Red Rose Recovery, Rummage Rescuers and the Salvation council already works with local housing charities to support homeless people including accommodation pods for people who have been previously rough sleeping in the Shadsworth area of Blackburn, and emergency beds at local hostels. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
REVIEW: Burnley spot offers top-quality food at brilliant value
It turns out I've accidentally started a tradition: taking my mum out for lunch on Father's Day around East Lancashire. This year marked the second in a row she'd come to visit and I'd forgotten the date entirely. In my defence, this time dad was off doing a half-marathon in Denmark (obviously). So, while he was racking up the miles, mum and I made our way to Ellis's in Burnley to check out their brand new menu - and we were very glad we did. Ellis's (Image: NQ) I'd picked Ellis's because of its newly launched menu, which came out at the end of May, and it was a good call. The setting is bold and playful: patterned walls, neon signs, and tables covered in retro sweets beneath glass tops (plus a stack of Trivial Pursuit cards on every table for a nostalgic kick). Music played in the background - upbeat without being overpowering - and the whole place felt clean and well-kept, with large tables that would suit families and groups. Inside the restaurant (Image: NQ) Now for the important part: the food. It was a Sunday and I'd not eaten yet. Having already seen one of the pizzas be delivered to another table, my eyes locked onto that part of the menu. I went straight for the pepperoni pizza, a classic, but it was done so well. It had a satisfyingly crisp base, generous toppings, and just the right amount of char. Alongside it, I had a banana milkshake that was fresh, thick and not too sweet - a proper one, too, not out of a bottle. Mum tackled the small plates: cod goujons with rocket and tartare, and pork and mozzarella bon bons with a redneck mayo. Both were excellent - crispy coatings, well-seasoned, and generous portions. Pepperoni pizza - a classic, and done so well (Image: NQ) Cod goujons and pork & mozzarella bon-bons (Image: NQ) We shared a side of skin-on fries that were golden and hot, ideal for grazing in between - and, unlike a lot of places, a really generously-sized portion. The full menu has plenty of choices, including burgers, Ellis's signature, under names such as Big Pimpin' and Real Mothaclucka, alongside vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Service was friendly and efficient. No frills, but no complaints either. Drinks-wise, there's a good spread - soft drinks, milkshakes, mocktails, cocktails, and the usual suspects, making it a solid option for both casual lunches and livelier evenings. Banana milkshake, which was delicious (Image: NQ) At £45 for everything we had, it felt like great value in today's economic climate - especially considering portion sizes and overall quality. It's not the easiest place to stumble across if you're not from the area, being tucked away St James' Row, but it's absolutely worth seeking out. The menu is playful but delivers where it counts, and the atmosphere strikes a great balance between fun and relaxed. A strong 4.5 out of 5 - I may have to alter that accidental tradition slightly and come here every year.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rossendale World Gravy Wrestling Championships entries open
The date for this year's World Gravy Wrestling Championships has been announced and organisers have started the search for 17th annual event is being held at the Rose 'N' Bowl Pub in Stacksteads, Rossendale, Lancashire, on 25 wear fancy dress to grapple in a pool full of gravy in two-minute bouts, with judges awarding points on entertainment value, as well as the championships raise money for East Lancashire Hospice. Eighteen-year-old George Young won last year's men's title.,H put his victory down to his strategy of "not wearing myself out quickly" and being spurred on by his friends and family "chanting my name".Meanwhile, Christine Rogers, 43, wrestled her way to victory in the women's event on her sixth said it felt "amazing to actually win after years of trying". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
