AN OSWALDTWISTLE pub landlord is delighted after being granted an entertainment licence by Hyndburn Council. John Bromage, landlord of the White Bull, on New Lane, will be able to put on entertainment on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 7pm to midnight. He collected more than 100 signatures from regulars in support of his application, but said he feared councillors would not approve the licence after eight objections were received from members of the public worried about late-night noise, parking problems and trouble from young people. Mr Bromage's original application asked for a licence covering Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to midnight, and Sunday between 12 noon and 10.30pm, but he amended it to Thursday to Saturday during the meeting of the council's Judicial Committee. And councillors gave it the go-ahead after discovering that three of the objections were from outside the Oswaldtwistle area. Another objector withdrew their complaint during the meeting.

COMMUNITY campaigner Barbara Cliffe has been presented with the Church Area Council Award. Mrs Cliffe, a former Metropolitan police officer, was handed the award by the deputy leader of the council, Councillor Mrs Jean Battle, at the last meeting of the area council. She has been secretary of Church Central Residents' Association since 1997. Her husband Richard is the association's treasurer. The couple live in Sussex Close, Church. Richard is also a member of Church Prospects Panel, and Mrs Cliffe's hard work in connection with some of this group's projects was praised by area council chairman Councillor John Broadley. Last year the association was involved in arranging a Millennium Fair in Gatty Park, Church, with the help of cash made available under the Golden Jubilee Awards for All schemes. Association members also established a memorial to Queen Elizabeth's special anniversary which has been erected on a lawn in the park. With the funds it raises the association arranges holidays for some of the children in Church, and after gaining a grant from a London-based charity and backing from Lancashire County Council, the association has been able to appoint the town's first full-time youth worker, Steven Southward. Mr Southward organises such activities as pot-holing and rock climbing outings for local youngsters.

PLANS have been submitted to Hyndburn Council to convert a house in Church into a base for police and community groups. The property, on Walmsley Close, has been earmarked as the centre of the All Safe project, a scheme to improve security in the area. The scheme, launched in November, has been co-ordinated by Accrington Police and run in conjunction with the community wardens, Age Concern Hyndburn, Church Kirk Residents' Association, Homewise and Groundwork. Sergeant Claire Holbrook, of Accrington Police, said: "The house will be used by our community beat managers, residents' groups and neighbourhood watch groups. This is a very exciting project." Other work already completed under the scheme has included gathering information about crime and anti-social behaviour and installing extra security measures.

RESIDENTS in Oswaldtwistle are being reminded to get their stone flags security marked after a spate of thefts in the area. PCSO Andy Banks, who is based at Accrington Police Station, said that despite efforts to raise awareness, there had been an increase in the number of stone thefts. He said: "We are asking the public to be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police. Despite letter drops and signs going up in the affected areas, very few people have come forward to request their stones to be marked. If anyone would like us to mark their stones with a special UV pen, please do not hesitate to contact us on 353103."