The upper stretch of Castle Road in Colne – that's between the last houses above Venables Avenue and The Castle, in case the council wants an exact location – is a classic example of just how unclean we really are.

Empty vodka bottles, lager cans, milk cartons, crisp packets and the rest litter the sides of the road – and while those who discard their rubbish in this slovenly fashion should hang their heads in shame, what is Pendle Council doing to clear up the mess?

At the moment, the answer would appear to be nothing – and that is simply not good enough.

Mr Pendle was first told about the state of the roadside more than a month ago – and had to go to take a look for himself to believe what he had heard.

If Pendle Council is really serious about its claim to be cleaner and greener, it should pull its finger out and get areas like Castle Road cleaned up – either by its own staff, or by arranging for the Scouts, or better still those shiftless individuals given community orders by the courts to do it for them free of charge.

Mr Pendle and his friends will be watching developments over the coming weeks with interest. His vitriol gun has already had one barrel reloaded. The second cartridge is ready to be unpacked. The ball is in your court, Pendle Council.


HERE we go again! Yet another search has been held to find England's ultimate icon, with the winner due to be announced two days ago, St George's Day.

And who are the leading contenders? Let's have a look.

Well, what a surprise – there's Winston Churchill at the top, and, shock, horror, William Shakespeare is up there too.

Good old Henry VIII is a contender as well, not forgetting St George himself, of course (even though he wasn't actually English).

Robin Hood, whether he existed or not, is another choice, and the list is completed by Lord Nelson, Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, Sir Isaac Newton and the inevitable footballer, Bobby Moore.

But here's a thought. Why are the choices – Queen Victoria apart – all men?

Are there no women deemed worthy of being a national icon? What about Florence Nightingale, for example?

She did, after all, grace the back of our £10 notes for many years, and is surely more worthy of consideration than a footballer – or does football have to stick its nose into everything these days?