Something you see too much of is litter, but on Sunday I came across something I've never seen in West Craven before. On the disused railway line behind Earby's old station yard was a scattering of empty beer cans - nothing unusual in that - and beside them two used hypodermic syringes, just lying next to the footpath.

I'm not one who fondly imagines drugs are just a problem in the cities - read some of the court reports in this week's, or any week's, paper and you'll soon realise our nice bit of the world has its fair share of drugs problems. But this was the first time I'd seen evidence of it just lying in the open. And it made me angry.

Angry at the thoughtless, irresponsible idiots who'd left them there.

We're constantly told to empathise with and show pity for young people who fall, or are lured, into the drugs trap, victims of an uncaring society who need our help. There's some truth in that, but I can't feel sorry for people who put other lives at risk through their own addiction.

That footpath is a favourite of local children, away from the road and leading to the recreation ground. Everyone knows how curious children are, but who knows what could happen if they found these syringes? Apart from the considerable risk of infection from used needles, the syringes are dangerous in themselves.

If whoever left them there wants to destroy themselves through drugs, then ultimately that's their business? But they have no right to put others at the same risk through their rank stupidity.

Carefully I picked up the syringes and took them away to dispose of safely. Later I wondered if I'd done the right thing, so I made some inquiries.

Apparently, if you find anything of that sort, you should ring your local council's cleansing department which will arrange for collection and safe disposal. The phone number in Pendle is 661743.

If that option isn't open, such as on a Sunday, you can ring the police who will also collect in exceptional circumstances. DGS

THE Barnoldswick Football and Athletic Club needed more support if it was to be a success, reported the Herald.

The matter was discussed at a public meeting in the town, and it was agreed to set up a Supporters Club to help put Barnoldswick on the football map. Apparently, the club had been struggling along as best it could but it was hoped with greater support it would go from strength to strength. It was agreed the new club could provide entertainment to improve social amenities.

SILENTNIGHT was preparing to go public in 1973.

The reason for floating the business on the stock exchange was its exceptionally rapid growth over the previous two years.

The firm has continued to grow ever since and only last week the Herald reported how it is set for a £3 million expansion by hoping to buy out the Rest Assured bedding business.

PENDLE councillor David Whipp received awards for hot air from the Yorkshire Electricity Board.

The civic shields marked Pendle's work in modernising 93 of its council houses in West Craven through fitting Economy Seven storage and water heaters and re-insulating the homess throughout.

Hopefully they - like Coun Whipp - are still going strong.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.