Breaking News in Blackburn
Stay informed with the most pressing and breaking stories from Blackburn. From major events to urgent updates, find it here.
Nominations open for Blackburn with Darwen’s Community Volunteer Awards
People across Blackburn with Darwen are being urged to put forward the volunteers who go above and beyond, with the Community Volunteer Awards now open for nominations. The celebration returns to King George’s Hall in November.
Blackburn with Darwen carers invited to a week of free events and support
Unpaid carers across Blackburn with Darwen are being urged to make time for themselves next week, with a packed programme of free events, wellbeing sessions and a celebration day during Carers Week.
Nominations open for Blackburn with Darwen’s Community Volunteer Awards
People across Blackburn with Darwen are being urged to put forward the volunteers who go above and beyond, with the Community Volunteer Awards now open for nominations. The celebration returns to King George’s Hall in November.
Blackburn with Darwen carers invited to a week of free events and support
Unpaid carers across Blackburn with Darwen are being urged to make time for themselves next week, with a packed programme of free events, wellbeing sessions and a celebration day during Carers Week.

Blackburn fuel prices today: local unleaded ranges from 149.9p to 173.9p within 7 miles of Blackburn town centre. See the cheapest and most expensive petrol and diesel prices near you.
Attendees, performers and organisers have described this year’s Mill Hill Family Festival as their ‘best ever’ after record crowds turned out at Mill Hill Park in Blackburn.
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Older Blackburn News
Did you miss out? Here are some of the older stories and news about Blackburn and Darwen
2-for-1 iced drinks deal launches at Rhode Island Coffee in Blackburn
Rhode Island Coffee in The Mall Blackburn is offering 2-for-1 classic iced drinks from 5 to 7 June – ideal for a town centre treat.
Blackburn with Darwen SEND parent champion scheme wins national award again
A Blackburn with Darwen scheme supporting families of children with SEND has been recognised nationally for the second year running, with Bethany Pegg named Best Newcomer at the Coram Parent Champions Awards 2026.
Apple Trees gets 11th straight Outstanding from Ofsted
Apple Trees children’s home in Blackburn has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted for the 11th year running, with inspectors praising the warmth, care and progress of children who use the short break service.
Blackburn News Archive
All the archived stories from Blackburn Life – News about Blackburn and Darwen
Big plans are rolling out across Blackburn with Darwen – and it’s not just about filling potholes.
Interest in new homes for sale in Blackburn has soared by 271%, reveals local housebuilder Countryside Homes.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to help others? Now’s your chance to say thank you.
In August 2023, it was announced that Blackburn was set to welcome a new drive-thru restaurant from popular Canadian coffee and doughnut brand Tim Hortons. Hopes were high for a swift opening at the proposed site on Townsmoor Retail Park — the former home of Carphone Warehouse. The plans promised 50 new jobs, a new food and drink destination, and a much-needed boost for the retail park.
New figures show that Blackburn motorists continue to face some of the highest petrol and diesel prices in the region, reigniting long-standing concerns that the town’s drivers are being unfairly penalised at the pump.
Music fans in Blackburn are in for something truly special this summer as a brand-new stage show about the legendary John Lennon arrives at the Blackburn Empire Theatre for one night only on Thursday 12 June 2025.
Hobkirks have launched brand new Brother sewing machine offers — now available online and in-store!
Blackburn’s nightlife has taken another hit with the closure of The Rock Box on King William Street. More than just a bar, The Rock Box had become a focal point for Blackburn’s live music scene and a rare haven for fans of rock and alternative culture. Now shuttered after months of financial difficulty, its closure raises bigger questions about Blackburn’s ability to sustain drinking venues and night-time culture in a rapidly changing town centre.
After a roaring start in Liverpool, complete with standing ovations and five-star reviews, Irish Annie’s is heading to the Blackburn Empire Theatre for one night only — and audiences are in for a real treat.
An unexpected and moving moment unfolded at Blackburn’s VE80 Fest in Witton Park, as a family visiting the event discovered a tribute to their own wartime relative on display at the Veterans Living History Museum CIC exhibition.
Considering your next home? Bovis Homes will provide tips for those looking to upsize, downsize or move up the property ladder at its special Home Movers weekend on 10th – 11th May.
Hobkirk Sewing Machines in Blackburn is offering a series of exciting deals throughout May – perfect for sewing enthusiasts looking to upgrade their equipment or try something new.
A full house, a standing ovation, and wave after wave of applause — Beauty and the Beast has roared into Blackburn Empire Theatre with style, spirit, and spectacle.
Witton Park in Blackburn is preparing to host one of the region’s most anticipated community events — VE80 Fest — marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
The highly anticipated Big Soul Night Out scheduled for Saturday 24 January 2026 at King George’s Hall in Blackburn has been cancelled.
An appeal has been lodged against the Council’s refusal of planning permission for an unlawful caravan site in Darwen – and while the appeal is underway, the Council’s enforcement action to remove the site is effectively paused.
Hobkirk Sewing Machines is offering a limited-time 20% discount on some of its most popular sewing threads — perfect for keen sewists planning their next project.
Blackburn’s Business Improvement District (BID) is recruiting for a new BID Manager, following a change in leadership.
Catch it in Cathedral Square from this Saturday for 5 weeks – covering both May Bank Holidays, VE Day, and half-term.
Blackburn Road Runners’ Lynne Knowles had more than one reason to celebrate last weekend — not only was it her birthday, but she also completed her first-ever marathon at the Manchester Marathon, overcoming a major injury along the way.
Workers’ Memorial Day was marked in Blackburn with Darwen this week, with a ceremony attended by union members, local representatives, and supporters from across the borough.
Another of Blackburn’s town centre bars could be set for change, with the Blackburn Times on Northgate now up for sale.
Improvement works across key junctions in Blackburn with Darwen are continuing as part of a major investment in local bus services – but residents are being advised to expect some disruption while the upgrades take place.
Children’s Services in Blackburn with Darwen have received a ‘Good’ rating across the board from Ofsted, marking a significant step forward since the previous inspection in 2022.
A former live music venue in Blackburn town centre is set for a new lease of life – as a new Chaii tea café.
Blackburn will welcome a familiar West End face this July, as singer and actor Lee Mead brings his brand-new live show, The Best of Me, to the Blackburn Empire Theatre on Friday 4 July 2025.
There’s no doubt the news that Marks & Spencer will leave Blackburn town centre will be met with disappointment by many. For decades, M&S has been a cornerstone of high street shopping in Blackburn, a familiar name on a changing landscape. But when it comes to the future of the brand in our borough, the newly approved move to Whitebirk is, in truth, the best Blackburn could have hoped for.
Something HUGE is making a splash at Darwen Leisure Centre – and you could be the first to try it out!
To the Batcave, Blackburn’s independent comic book haven, is gearing up for one of the most exciting days in the geek calendar – Free Comic Book Day 2025!
A brand-new exhibition celebrating 150 years of Blackburn Rovers Football Club has opened at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery—just yards from where the club was first formed in 1875.
A much-missed bus service is making a welcome return in Blackburn – nearly a decade after it was withdrawn.
Refurbishment work is set to begin at Darwen Town Hall, following Council approval of plans to upgrade the building and prepare it for the relocation of joint Council and NHS services.
Witton Country Park will come alive this May Bank Holiday as Blackburn hosts a major community celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Blakewater Homecare in Blackburn recently welcomed a special guest as the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Brian Taylor, paid a visit last Friday to celebrate the service’s recent success in its first CQC (Care Quality Commission) assessment.
Spring is here – and so is a fantastic Spring Sale from Hobkirk Sewing Machines, one of Blackburn’s best-loved crafting suppliers.