Has anyone had any carol singers this year?

It's perhaps a sign of the times but the only 'carol signers' seen out on our streets so far have been teenagers, some of who apparently don't even make an effort.

One reader of our blog recently e-mailed us to say that she had answered the door to 4 teenagers aged around 16 signing 'We wish you a Merry Christmas' and remembers a time when children used to come knocking on her door reciting a range of different carols.

However, in the past decade or so door-to-door carol singing has started to fade. "I used to recognise most of the children who came knocking on my door from the local church. Quite often they would come round with their parents and I'd give them a donation, some chocolate or a mince pie" Sarah, from the Hollins Grove area of Darwen, told us.

Along with Halloween & Guy Fawkes night, the nights leading up to Christmas are growing increasingly quiet, apart from an occasional group of teenagers who perhaps go door to door hoping to raise a bit of extra pocket money for themselves rather than 'a penny for the Guy'.

"I doubt the lads who called round would have been too happy with a mince pie so I gave them a bit of money but I didn't know who they were - none of my neighbours have teenage children." Sarah's email continued.

"A couple of them had Santa hats on but the others just had tracksuit tops with their hoods pulled up over their faces."

So why have church carol singers faded away over the years and children asking for donations for the Guy been replaced with teenagers looking for money to buy their next firework?

Perhaps it's another case of modern day lack of "community" and parents reluctance to send their younger children out onto the streets at night singing carols.

On the other hand maybe those teenagers making an "effort" should be praised rather than feared? What is your take on this - have you had any carol singers this year? Do you know of any local churches who are sending out organised carol signers?

Price of stamps set to rise

Royal Mail has announced the price of first and second class stamps is set to rise again in April.

From 6 April 2009 a first-class stamp will cost 39p while second-class will be priced at 30p

Royal Mail issued a statement defending the price increase claiming that stamped mail remains very affordable.

Meanwhile Dutch firm TNT confirmed it would be interested in a stake in Royal Mail following the governments initial backing of a report suggesting it should be part-privatised.

Many local residents were shocked to find they had to pay fees at the post office to accept Christmas cards last year which were posted by friends & relatives with insufficient postage.

This was following changes made to how mail was charged, basing prices on size in addition to the weight. If you are ever in any doubt, take your mail/parcel to the post office or pickup a size chart before applying stamps to your post.

Residents Worried About Darwen CCTV Cameras

Darwen residents are concerned about CCTV cameras in the town centre which have been out of order for much longer than they would have liked.

The concerns were raised in a recent community meeting held in the town. CCTV has now become part of our network of security helping to keep shoppers, business owners and residents safe.

With a number of cameras out of order in Darwen it is feared that residents aren't being fully protected and demand that they are fixed as a matter of urgency.

Although the number of businesses installing their own 24/7 CCTV surveillance has increased in recent years, towns and cities still rely on councils to record many areas of public space which nearby businesses may not capture on their recordings.

CCTV cameras are effective methods of preventing crime in Darwen - but they can only capture evidence if they are working! Mobile CCTV operations will be in force in the region over Christmas to help clamp down on anti-social behaviour in town centres.

FSA - Helping People Stay In Control Of Their Money

The Financial Services Authority are using a website and offline advertising to spearhead a campaign to help consumers keep a better grip on their money in the current economic climate.

The "Moneymadeclear" campaign has been backed by the government to the tune of £2m as they try to fund consumer help initiatives.

Tools available on the website, www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk, include a comparison table on various financial products, hints and tips to budget your money effectively and help with life events such as buying a house or starting a family and advice on saving for retirement.


You can also request a number of FREE printed guides through their online order form. Other useful tools include:

Debt Test - find out if you have potential problems with your borrowing.
Budget Calculator - discover if you have enough money to cover your spending
Loan Calculator - work out how much repayments would be on a range of loans
Pension Calculator - how much will you get when you retire?

If you're not sure where to start on the website simply visit the FINANCIAL HEALTH CHECK section to get started.

During this uncertain economic climate it's important to look after your money and ensure you don't fall into too much debt. If you prefer to use the phone to get help you can ring the FSA consumer helpline on 0845 606 1234.

Proposed Changes To Consumer Law

The Department for Business is looking at a proposed new consumer rights directives.

The new laws will replace existing rules in several areas to help offer more protection to shoppers within the EU, especially in relation to Internet shopping and door-to-door selling.

If the proposals become are passed consumers within the EU will benefit from:

• A 14 day cooling off period for anything purchased online or from doorstep sellers
• Consistent protection when goods are not delivered
• Clearer rules outlining the reposnibilities of traders and consumers in returning goods
• Stronger protection for consumers buying at home from doorstep sellers.
  

The directive also proposes a change to the rules surrounding faulty goods. At the moment UK consumers can reject faulty goods and ask for a refund, but the proposed change would allow retailers the opportunity to provide a repair or replacement first.

Other recent changes for online shoppers include a change in duty payments on goods purchased from outside the EU.

Previously consumers had to pay duty on any purchase valued over £18, however, since 1 December this has been raised to £105.

VAT is not affected by the change and is still payable on goods over £18 but you could see a saving next time you buy something like a DVD Box Set from America for example.

Search for region's greenest company

A search to find the Northwest's greenest business has been launched by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and Mersey Basin Campaign.

They want businesses from across the region to nominate themselves for the 2009 Northwest Business Environment Awards. Entries must be received before February 2, 2009

Nominations can be for one or more award categories including: Best Environmental Practice, Built Environment, Sustainable Procurement, Environmental Innovation and Environmental Champions.

The awards ceremony will be held in June 2009 and the chief executive of the hosts said "This year we are looking forward to congratulating the people who make the Northwest a national leader in sustainable business".

If you are interested in entering your business please visit www.merseybasin.org.uk.

Football Result: Eccleshall 2 Darwen 0 (20/12/08)

Eccleshall beat Darwen for the second time in the Vodkat League First Division this season with two goals in a little over 5 minutes.

The second half goals were scored with a 25 yard deflected shot by Dean Ennion and a header by Eccleshall captain Adam Soane.

Darwen went into the game full of confidence after beating Stone Dominoes in a midweek away fixture but Eccleshall chose Saturdays game to score their first home league goals since August to leave Darwen on 16 points.

Darwen face Padiham away on Boxing Day who will be looking to pick up all three points to go top of the league. AFC Liverpool currently lead the way with one extra point but have played a game more than Padiham.

AFC Liverpool kicked off their impressive start to the season with a 5-0 win over Darwen in their first ever competitive game. You can see video clips of this August match below:

They Used To Play On Sat'days

"They Used To Play On Sat'days" is the title of the latest book written by Darwen author Andrew Rigby.

As a lifelong fan of Blackburn Rovers he took the decision to write about ten of their greatest players between the two Wembley appearances of 1960 and 1987.

Mr Rigby told us "I wanted to write a book about the team I've supported all my life to explain what it was like supporting them in those days."

"Although Rovers have seen success in numerous competitions throughout their long history, they recorded their lowest ever league position between the two Wembley appearances"

After losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1960 FA Cup final, supporters witnessed a poor run of form which eventually saw the team in the lower half of the old Third Division.

"Even though times were very difficult for the team in those days we still had some great players, people who I enjoyed watching and individuals who could almost win a a game on their own."

"The players didn't receive huge pay packets or as much media attention as they do these days but they played with real passion for the team." Andrew went on to explain.

The book isn't the first one by the Darwen born Rovers author. In 2005 he wrote a book about local people during World War II and later co-wrote Birch Hall Memories about Darwen Cricket Club. His latest book is available from WH Smiths or Darwen Market for just £10.


Of the ten Rovers players featured, the book includes:

Ronnie Clayton
Bryan Douglas
Mike England
Tony Field
Howard Kendall
Simon Garner

Crown Paints cuts almost 10% of workforce

Crown Paints has announced plans to cut 140 jobs during major restructuring of the business after investment firm Endless LLC took a major stake in the business from former parent company Akzo Nobel.

Crown Paints, who sponsor the Blackburn Rovers kit this season, has it's UK head office in Darwen and it is expected that many of the 140 jobs will be lost from the HQ with further job cuts expected in Hull, Warrington, Dublin and Belfast.

The company issued a statement reading "Following a thorough review of our operations and as part of our drive to improve efficiency, we propose to implement a restructuring programme across the business.

"This process will include the introduction of a number of improvements to bring our cost base in line with anticipated future performance and, regrettably, it is also likely to result in a number of redundancies across our Darwen, Hull, Warrington, Dublin and Belfast operations."

What does this mean to you and your family? How have you been affected by the CREDIT CRUNCH? How has your lifestyle changed compared to last year?

Darwen Silver Surfers Enjoy Christmas Party

Members of a Darwen computer club enjoyed a day out to Smith Hills Hall, Bolton where they were entertained by a popular piano player. The event was organised by the group of "silver surfers" who attend regular computer clubs at Darwen Resource Centre and Knott Street Community centre.

Alan, a pensioner who attended the event (pictured below) told us "We all had a good meal and the entertainer was a piano player who really got us all singing and dancing. We all had a great time!"


The group kindly submitted photographs if their outing to be uploaded to Darwen Online, your local community website for news, events, photographs and discussions. If you are having an event of any kind over Christmas or in the New Year, be sure to e-mail us some information and we'll list the event in our "What's On Guide" for free.


So, get involved with your local community website and submit your own photographs or video clips from events you attend over the Christmas period and throughout 2009. Darwen Online is a free website for the town, bringing you local news & views plus information on local events.

If you are interested in joining the computer club please contact the Knott Street Community Centre for more information.

Join our Facebook Group

Our facebook group now has over 100 members supporting Darwen Online, the towns first and best community website & business directory. Since launching in July 2008 the site has boasted hits from all over the world as people keep in touch with what's happening in their "home town".

Darwen Online is showing a steady increase of visitors month on month as people in the town start to gain awareness of the site. Our facebook group is just one of many groups on the popular networking site which is dedicated to Darwen. Others include "Say NO to the bus lane" and "I lived in Darwen . . . . and Survived".

In the summer we saw a facebook group battle between rivals over the proposed bus lane. "Say NO to the bus lane" was started by local MP Janet Anderson whilst a local worker started a group supporting the bus lane.

Despite the council performing it's own poll showing local residents were in favour of the bus lane, it would appear that the story of these two rival facebook groups tell a very different story. Whilst very few people ever signed up to the group in favour of the bus lane, the MP's group against the bus lane continues to grow and now boasts over 500 members!

Talk to Santa LIVE with 107 The Bee

Local radio station, 107 The Bee, is providing local children with the chance to talk to Santa LIVE on Christmas Eve with their "Santa Phone In".

Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to take last minute requests and questions from local youngsters from 10am on Wednesday 24th December.

Visit this link to pre-register your child for a free call from Santa and be sure to stay by your radio and phone on Christmas Eve! Registration is open to primary school aged children.

Jake Berry calls for Mayors chain to be returned to Darwen

Jake Berry, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rossendale & Darwen has today revealed that he is in discussions with Colin Rigby the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council to try and secure the return of the Mayoral Chain to the newly formed Darwen Town Council.

Jake Berry commented “the chain used by the current Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen was at one time the Mayoral Chain for Darwen. Following on from the recent ratification of the referendum forming a Darwen Town Council, I have written to the Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council to request that he formally investigates the possibility of returning of the Mayoral Chain to Darwen”

The Mayoral Chain had both a Darwen pendant and Darwen links and I hope that, if returned to the town, the chain will be restored to its original condition. The return of the Mayoral Chain to Darwen would also be of historical importance to both the heritage and identity of the town and I know this is something about which the people of Darwen feel strongly.”

Jake Berry commented further “All off the Darwen Conservative Councillors voted in favour of the Town Council and I know they will support the return of the Mayoral Chain to Darwen.”
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Darwen Band's Music Available Online

A local band, Silent Dog, has uploaded it's own songs to the Internet for people to download, listen to and review. The groups first EP, entitled A Long Winter, is now available to download online through PROJECT OPUS.

Project Opus is an online music community website designed to support artists, fans and local music. The site allows artists to easily self-publish their music and even earn revenue for downloads - removing the need to sign a record contract first. For the fans, it provides them with a way to easily access music they love and support the artists who make it.

To listen to A Long Winter by Silent Dog please visit the site at: Project Opus


Since uploading their first album people have left reviews complimenting the mellow tunes which make up the EP. Songs can be listened to for free and can be downloaded for less than £1.00 each. Music fans visit the site from all over the world but most listeners are from 'across the pond' in the USA. The most listened to track from A Long Winter is track #1 "Come To My Aid" which has been listened to by 282 people.

It is probably worth looking into Project Opus for local bands who are looking to publish their own songs on the Internet. Along with MySpace the Internet may help boost your way to stardom!

Have you found any songs you like on Project Opus?

New Darwen Lidl Grand Opening

The new Darwen Lidl store opened it's doors to customers for the first time on Thursday morning at 8am with massive in-store opening offers, free tea and coffee and other free gifts. Various attractions will remain available throughout the opening weekend so don't worry if you cant get down on Thursday!

The store's inflation busting prices include special gifts, kitchen essentials, musical instruments, golf accessories, home entertainment, DIY tools and of course food and drink.

Opening day shoppers can enjoy free tea, coffee and mince pies outside the main entrance after unloading their shopping and returning the shopping trolley. Spend over £30 on your shop and receive a free car wash (8.30am - 4pm Thursday & Saturday).


There is also free face painting for children on Saturday & Sunday and a free gift wrapping service on Christmas gifts purchased from the store. If you get chance to visit the new store today you will be greeted by staff and stilt walkers in fancy dress handing out various flyer's containing all the special offers for Christmas.

Early shoppers were even treated to a bunch of free flowers and a free newspaper on their way out of the store!


The MASSIVE OPEN DAY OFFERS include:

• Targa Satellite Navigation System £79.99 (RRP £139.99)
• 19" Widescreen LCD Flatscreen Monitor £69 (RRP £119)
• Portable DVD Player £49 (RRP £99)
• Circular Saw £19.99 (RRP £34.99)
• Christmas Food & Drink (Reduced)
  

Have you been to the store yet?

Snowfall in Darwen

Darwen woke up to a light dusting of snow on December 2nd 2008. It wasn't enough to start building snowmen - you'd barely gather enough snow for a snowball but never the less it was more than enough to extend the journey time along the A666.

Despite only being subject to light snow showers early Tuesday morning the cold snap ensured snow was still on the ground when most people made their way into work/school between 7.30 and 8.30am. Traffic was moving at a snails pace through parts of Darwen as school buses ploughed their way through the slush. It appeared that many children gave up waiting in the cold for their late buses and many could still be seen walking round the town centre past 9am when most schools start.

Many schools now have a policy of sending pupils home when there has been snow, especially when it makes travelling to and from school a problem, but although buses were running later than usual it is thought that the majority made it into schools on time.


Darwen has been subject to sub zero temperatures for much of the last week and things are forecast to get worse before they get better. Online weather site Metcheck have warned heavy snow could be on the way for Thursday morning and although Friday is expected to be sunny, temperatures will struggle to get above freezing for much of the day.

Our advice - wrap up warm and if in doubt about school closures ring them up before sending your children in.

If the forecast is correct and we do see snow on Thursday we'd love to receive some of your photographs - send them in and we'll feature the best ones in a special news article.

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Darwen's Unsung Hero Award

Florentin Boudjeko was presented with the Gold Unsung Hero award at the Christmas lights switch on last week in recognition of his voluntary work. Darwen Online approached Florentin for an interview in which he shared his joy and surprise at winning the award.

Mr Boudjeko holds regular dance classes where he teaches Salsa to beginners and advanced students. The classes have proved very popular and some of the people who attend his classes nominated him for the award as a way of showing their appreciation.

Florentin's salsa group is celebrating it's 1st anniversary in January and he now holds more regular events than ever before as more and more people sign up to learn salsa. He says people of all ages attend his class, from children to pensioners - and everyone seems to have a great time learning to dance, keeping fit and meeting new people.

In our interview Florentin talks about his time in Darwen and his plans for the future:

How long have you lived in Darwen?
I moved to Darwen 2 years ago after living in Manchester for a short while. Before that I lived in Cameroon where dancing is a part of life!

When did you start the salsa lessons?
I love dancing and saw an opportunity to start teaching others for free so I started up the "Darwen Salsa Group" in January 2007.

How did it make you feel to receive the 'Unsung Hero' award?
It was a lovely surprise to find out I'd been nominated in the first place, but even then I didn't expect to win. I didn't know anything about it until the Thursday before I received the award when I was told I'd been nominated. When it was announced that I'd won Gold I just felt so proud. I never expected anything from anyone I just teach Salsa because I enjoy it - it comes from the heart, I have a real passion for dancing.

You've recently introduced new classes to cope with the demand. Do you think winning the award will increase the popularity even more?
I hope so - the more people I can teach the better! It gives people something to do and it's nice seeing people smile. I have students of all ages and I try to encourage people to dance with different partners whenever possible. It helps people build confidence and also provides the opportunity to meet new people.


I'm really busy now but I love doing what I'm doing. So much so that some of my friends feel like I've let them down. I enjoy fishing and playing football in my spare time but whenever a friend calls me up these days I'm always busy. I'll always put my students first though - I've met some wonderful people and would never let them down - I'm just going to continue expanding hopefully.

I see you also run salsa parties in addition to your classes?
Yes, from time to time I host salsa parties which are a slightly more relaxed affair. It is where people can let their hair down a bit and test out their new skills. The parties are often arranged by other people - I just host the events. I attended a party on Friday at St Edwards Parish Hall where the money raised from the event was going to charity.

You must be quite busy now then?
Yes, I'm always on the go. In addition to teaching salsa I also provide a translation service for the citizen advice bureau in Manchester. They sometimes deal with people who can't speak English so I translate into French for them. This helps French speaking people who are looking for advice etc.

What are your plans for the future?
Eventually it would be nice to get a job connected with teaching Salsa in some way. I was shocked to discover many young people in this country seem to need lots of alcohol before they start dancing so I'd like to teach teenagers to dance without being drunk.

I might look towards holding some sort of after school event for 8-14 year olds. They teach children to sing and dance from a young age in Cameroon, I'd like to offer a similar service here in Darwen.

One day it would be nice to open up a salsa club in Darwen! I will just have to wait and see how things unfold for me. The award was a really nice surprise though and I am so proud to have been nominated - winning Gold was just a brilliant feeling.

Anyone who is interested in learning salsa should contact Florentin on 07784 290181. Classes are held in Darwen on Wednesday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sundays.

Caitlin Jones received Silver in the Darwen Unsung Hero award for raising money for cancer research and Chris Stephenson was awarded Bronze in recognition of his voluntary work in the town.
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New Residents Association for Clearwater Village

Residents of Clearwater Village, a housing development in the Marsh House area of Darwen, have recently set-up their own residents association to help unite the local community.

According to the first of their monthly newsletters there has been a distict lack of communication between residents since dwellings in Clearwater Village were first occupied in 2003. The intention of the residents association is to develop a better community spirit and hope their regular newsletter will help achieve this by keeping residents informed of any local developments.

Clearwater Village was completed in 2005 and contains 88 houses and 38 apartments and residents first investigated the idea of setting up their own residents association in September 2008. An initial meeting was arranged on 26th September to see if there was sufficient support for the idea. A representative of Blackburn with Darwen borough coucncil was in attendance at the initial meeting which confirmed a high level of interest in the formation of a residents association.


Less than 2 months have passed since their first meeting but Clearwater Village now have everything in place to form an official residents association with full recognition from the local council. A number of residents have volunteered themselves to fill the various roles of the association which plans to get to work straight away by addressing the adoption of highways and drains.

In addition to persuing adoption of the highways by Blackburn with Darwen they also hope to encourage the developer to address the defective lighting in the Village. It is hoped that the highways and drains will be adopted by the end of the year.

Say NO to 0870 numbers

If you are signed up to a phone package with unlimited UK landline calls you may have been surprised to still be facing call charges each month. This is because most of these deals include landline calls to numbers beginning with 01 and 02 only.

This means that you're still charged when ringing 0845, 0870, 0844 and 0871 numbers. Similarly many mobile phone packages also exclude these numbers from your inclusive minutes - you may also find that you're charged for "freephone" numbers when using your mobile (0800).

With so many businesses using NGN's (non geographic numbers) it is sometimes hard to avoid making these calls at least once a month meaning you always face extra charges when your phone bill arrives. However, a website called SAY NO TO 0870 can help save you money.

The website contains a database of alternative landline numbers for NGN's. For example, you may receive a ParcelForce "while you were out" leaflet if they've tried to make a delivery. The card prompts you to ring an 0870 number (costing approx 6p/min) but a quick search on the website provides you with an alternative number for the Preston depot, an 01772 number.

With the above example you would be able to make the call for free if you were on an inclusive calls package but you don't have to be on a special deal to benefit because calling an 0870 number can be 50% more expensive than a standard landline number. By ringing the 01772 number in the example you'd be saving approx 2p/min.It may not sound like a great deal of money but when you consider how long you are kept on hold with some NGN's it can soon add up!

So why do companies use 0870 numbers anyway? The main reason is because in many cases they get a share of the revenue - helping to cover the cost of running customer support lines etc. You will find that there are lots of businesses who use 0870 numbers for customer service or order enquiry services when their order numbers might be 0845 number or even a freephone (0800) number!

Saynoto0870.com keeps a database of many numbers providing cheaper alteratives to help save you money. For example, did you know that in some cases you can ring the freephone order number and be asked to be put through to customer services?

In many cases businesses use the 0870 numbers to forward to existing landlines and where possible the cost saving website provides you with these landline numbers so you can call the directly!

If you are unable to find an alternative you could try using an override provider whereby you call their telephone number first before dialling the 0870 number. These services can usually save you some money by charging a lower rate than you standard operator.

Search for override numbers | Visit SAYNOTO0870

Google SearchWiki - personalise your results

Google have unleashed a new way to personalise your results on the popular search engine. Their new service, SearchWiki, allows users to delete search results they don't like, promote ones they do like to a higher position and add comments to them. The company is calling it the next step in search engine evolution.

To start using SearchWiki you must sign up for a free Google Account and changes you make will only apply to your searches whilst you're logged in.

It is estimated that up to 40% of searches are repeat queries where people are looking for a website they've visited before but can't remember the exact web address. SearchWiki will allow you to reorder the search results and add comments so that next time you perform the same search you will see a customised results page.

Once you sign in to your Google account you will notice three icons next to each result - an upwards arrow to promote listings to a better ranking, a cross for deleting results and a speech bubble for adding comments.

They have also added a networking angle to the new service by allowing users to make their comments public. Other people across the Internet can then view these comments when a similar search is performed. Links at the bottom of the page allow users to see what others have posted. There is also an option to add certain listings to the first page of results if it's not already there.

SearchWiki gives Google users another way to customise and "bookmark" results. It will be interestting to see which ways other businesses find of exploiting the new service to help promote their own websites, products and services. Google itself could use the information to help improve their search engine results by removing unwanted listings from their results pages.

Sign up for you FREE Google account today

Final Touches Ahead Of Lights Switch On

Final preparations were underway today in Darwen ahead of Saturdays official Christmas lights switch on. The tree near the town centre on the A666 (pictured) was being decorated with lights whilst the final touches were being added to other decorations along the main road.

You may already have witnessed the decorated Christmas trees above your favourite town centre shop but the official lights switch on is being held on 22 November when local Paralymic silver medalist Felicity Coulthard will be special guest to switch on the lights.

The event runs from 3pm until 5.45pm and people attending the switch on will be treated to a fireworks show, a brass band, face painting, fancy dress competition and a donkey procession complete with festive lanterns.


Councillors have promised that this years festive lights will be better than ever after Darwen received a share of £20,000 of new lighting. Local traders are hoping the move will help boost town centre business by attracting more shoppers over the festive period.

Are you attending the switch-on?

Darwen Tower Closed For Repair

Darwen Tower is due to be closed for the rest of the week whilst repair work is carried out to the vandalised lightning conductor.

A new conductor is being put in place following some temporary repair work to the damaged conductor. It is expected to remain closed until 24 November but it is possible the landmark will be closed for longer should bad weather affect the speed at which the work can be carried out.

The lightning conductor is essential for protecting the structure against possible lightning strikes. The location of the 85ft tower on Beacon Hill means it is 1200ft above sea level providing visitors with wonderful views on a nice day. However, the same location also means preventative measures must be taken against lightning strikes which could potentially damage the landmark without the correct conductor in place.

The tower, which opened to the public in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, previously had to close to the public for repair work in October 2000. Jubilee Tower, as it's also known, was closed until April 2002 despite refurbishment only expecting to take 2-3 months.

Free Top Soil Available

A recently built house is offering free top soil to anyone who wants it! The house on Earnsdale Rd, Darwen, is one half of a new development just past St Cuthberts Close.

One of the new houses is currently occupied whilst the house with the sign offering free top soil is up for sale with Proctors Estate Agents at £299,950. The top soil offer isn't part of any gimmick to help sell the house and it is thought it is genuinely being given away to anyone with the sign even offering people to "HELP YOURSELF"

So, if you are in need of some topsoil for your gardening why not make your way down to Earnsdale Rd and pick some up for free?! Meanwhile, for those of you interested in the house itself you can view more information by visiting Proctors website.


The house is described as a modern detached property in an enviable location boasting excellent views over Sunnyhurst Woods Lodge. Arranged over 3 floors are 4 bedrooms, a fully tiled bathroom, lounge, fitted kitchen, utility room and cloak room. A block paved driveway leads up to the attached garage.

For more information click here

Engineers Arms Pub Special Offer

The Engineers Pub in Darwen are running a special offer on pints of Fosters this week by offering the popular lager for sale at just £2.00 per pint.

Drinkers in Darwen will be pleased to know that many pubs are now offering competitive prices or running special offers to help entice their customers back. New pub Last Orders is regularly busy with their low prices and The Bridgewater now has drinks for £1.00 per pint on Thursdays which is also proving to be popular.

Whilst people are counting the pennies more than they might have done before the so called "CREDIT CRUNCH", which is likely to see the country head into an official recession, pubs have been hit hard as people cut back on the amount of money they spend socialising.


How has the credit crunch affected your spending habbits?

Darwen Charity Shop's Party Day

You are invited to attend Age Concern's Charity Shop Party Day on Saturday 22nd November 2008. Doors open at 10am and the shop doesn't close until 5pm.

Everyone is welcome to view the range of gifts, shoes, bags, books, jewellery and fancy goods available including quality High Street labels.

Why not take this opportunity to show your support for the local charity shop and call in?

The Witton Weavers Way

Witton Weavers Way is a 32 mile trail of discovery which spans areas of Blackburn and Darwen. The Way is split into 4 different trails, each named after jobs within the cotton industry.

Blackburn and Darwen were at the heart of the cotton industry in the 1900's when the area was full of weaving sheds. Before this though hand loom weavers used to work from home and The Way is named in recognition of the huge role weaving and the cotton industry has played in the area over the years.

The four circular routes which make up the network are:

The Beamers Trail (6 Miles)
This route starts and ends in Witton Country Partk and takes walkers in a circular route through Woodcock Hill, Houghton Bottoms and Pleasington. Sections of the trail are alongside the River Darwen. Unfortunately part of the trail in Houghton Bottoms is closed until February 2009 due to a footpath collapse alongside the river.

The Reelers Trail (7.5 miles)
The second part of the Witton Weavers Way takes in a beautiful rural landscape which includes historic sites of farming, industry and religion starting at Cherry Tree in Blackburn. Crossing the Leeds & Liverpool canal the route takes you under the M65 and up through Abbey Village where you can stop for a well earned rest at the Hare & Hounds pub before continuing past Roddlesworth Reservoir and on towards Tockholes. The trail finally takes you back to the start point via Higher Whitehalgh and Broken Stone Road.

The Tacklers Trail (9.5 miles)
This part of The Witton Weavers Way is our most local section with a starting point at Sunnyhurst Woods Visitor Centre. The Tacklers Trail, which is the longest of the four trails which make up the full Way, takes in surrounding moorland and woodland. The first section takes you through Sunnyhurst Woods before heading up the steps near Earnsdale Reservoir towards Roddlesworth Upper Reservoir in Tockholes. The route allows you to visit the ruins of Hollins Head Hall, Higher Pasture Barn and Top O'Th' Brow before making your way back across the Darwen Moor.


Once you pass Lord's Hall you make your way across the moors to Darwen Tower before finally dropping down back towards Sunnyhurst Woods where you can stop and rest at Sunnyhurst Pub.

The Warpers Trail (8.5 miles)
The final leg of the Witton Weavers Way combines modern & ancient history, water and wildlife over a distance of 13.5 km. The trail takes you past Entwistle and Wayoh Reservoirs on the outskirts of Darwen & Bolton allowing you to take in views of Turton Tower before heading across to Jumbles and Turton Bottoms where you will begin turning back towards the starting point. Following the outline of Wayoh Reservoir you drop down past the Strawberry Duck where you may rest your feet before completing the final stretch to Batridge Barn car park.

Next time you're out on the moors take a look for signs like the one pictured above confirming you are on part of the Witton Weavers Way. If you would like to explore The Way please visit this site for more information including maps etc.

Whenever you are out walking please remember the country code:

• Be safe - plan ahead and follow signs

• Protect plants and animals - take your litter home

• Consider other people

• Keep dogs under control

• Leave gates as you find them

Wear sensible clothing and footwear and check weather forecasts before heading out. You may find it useful to purchase an OS map before making your trip: OS Explorer map no 287 West Pennine Moors

The Witton Weavers Way

Darwen "Dance to Health" Programme

A local “Dance to Health” programme aims to keep people fit by inviting them to dance in order to keep fit whilst enjoying themselves at local salsa parties, soul nights and dance classes.

The events are arranged by Darwen business woman Eileen Connell via her own website www.darwensoulandsalsa.co.uk. She says "There are other alternatives to going to the gym to keep fit and dancing is one of them. Our events allow you to enjoy yourself, socialise and even have a drink or two! The parties also showcase some of our local bands"

The first event was held a few months ago as a one off salsa party and it proved so popular that it has now turned into a monthly occurance. As the name suggests Darwen Soul and Salsa now hold regular soul nights in addition to their salsa parties and have had local bands such as Soul Searchers and Souled Out performing at recent dance evenings.

On her website Eileen points out the health and social advantages to attending their monthly events where she says they will be delivering a "Dance to Health" programme for Local organisations and the general public

The programme can be used for team building, clients well being, and reduce the barriers to health for everyone in the community.

The benefits are:

1. Salsa and other fun dances in the programme such as the Charleston Stroll, rock & roll/smooth jive and party dances, will be an activity that will capture peoples imagination and have a high take up and more importantly be continued (No Gym Just Dance)

2. No partner needed

3. Meet New people, see people in a different environment and become motivated to go to other events, outings, parties etc

4.Learn step by step, fun, welcoming atmosphere

5 Get fit without realising it!

6. Learn a new skill easily, boost confidence, reduce the "Can't do Attitude" some people struggle with.

7. Two left feet welcome

For more info Telephone Eileen on 0789 585 7737 or email: info@darwensoulandsalsa.co.uk

Visit the website: www.darwensoulandsalsa.co.uk

New Duo "Strutt Yer Stuff" impress local audiences

Newly formed duo "Strutt Yer Stuff" are already making a great impact on the live music scene in the North West, despite only recently forming.

Although they have only been together for a few months, audiences are raving about their mix of classic songs. Whether it's the drive and passion of songs like Jnr Walkers Roadrunner or the gentle tones of songs like Lional Richie's Hello.

Spencer, who is currently studying at the Royal College of Music in Manchester, delivers a fantastic range of tones on his Saxophone that will make you quiver in delight. While Clive, the vocalist who is from Darwen, is an established musician in his own right. His talents range from playing the drum's and guitar to also blasting the odd note or two on the trumpet.

The duo can be seen performing at venues across the North West including Preston & Liverpool. If you are looking for someone to perform at your own event why not contact Strutt Yer Stuff by visiting their website where you can also have a listen to some of their songs.
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Spoof Profile Shows Dangers of Social Network Sites.

Jake Berry, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Rossendale and Darwen, has highlighted the risks of using social networking sites after a spoof profile was posted on Friends Reunited.

The profile stated that “Jake can now only be killed with the seven daggers of Meggado and listed his interests amongst other things as boogying.” The profile has now been removed from the web site.

Jake commented “Being a public figure you have to accept the fact that people like to have a joke, often at your expense. Politicians are particularly prone to this which to some extent goes with the territory.

“I enjoy using sites such as Facebook, but this case shows how easy it is for people to create fake profiles and to steal your identity.


“Although this profile is a joke at my expense, I hope it will make everyone more aware of the dangers of putting personal information on the web. I would urge all parents to ensure that their children do not make personal information available and leave their privacy settings closed.”

Jake Berry has his own blog which you can visit at www.jakeberry.org

Christmas Wishes Appeal Launch

The Christmas Wishes Appeal 2008 is calling on businesses and residents in Darwen, Blackburn and Hyndburn to help support their local charities this Christmas.

The organisers behind the Christmas Wishes are appealing for 'new toys', toiletries, non perishable foods and other gifts which will be handed out to charities and organisations in the run up to the festive period.

A series of collection points are being set up across the area — including The Giving Tree at the Mall in Blackburn; the town hall in Darwen; Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Cummins Mellor Recruitment, Milnshaw House, 161 Whalley Road, Accrington. The collection points will be open until December 5 and after that date the donations will be distributed among local charity groups.

The Christmas Wishes appeal is being organised by the Community and Business Partners (CBP), which is dedicated to bringing the private sector, public sector and voluntary organisations together.


““Local charities work hard to look after the needy in our community every day of the year. Many of them they rely on donations simply to survive and many are dedicated to children and families. At Christmas they need more help than ever. The Christmas Wishes Appeal is a wonderful way for employers and residents to give something back into the community,” says Andrea Goodall of CBP.

“Through the Christmas Wishes Appeal we will ensure any donations — from toys to tinned and packaged food and clothes and other gifts to go directly to the local charities. We will make it easy for people and companies to give by collecting the donations and then distributing them.”

To find out where your nearest collection point is contact Andrea on 01254 505050.
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