BLACKBURN Lions Club celebrated its 1,000th meeting by donating almost £4,000 to good causes.

And among those to receive money was a teenager who will be competing in the Down's Syndrome swimming world championships.

The club was formed in 1962 with charter members including Blackburn Rovers benefactor Jack Walker and meets every first and third Tuesday of the month in Blakeys Bar, part of the King George's Hall complex.

Joshua Haworth, 14, who has Down's Syndrome was given £400 to help fund his trip to the world championships in Limerick, Ireland, in September.

Joshua, of Pleckgate, Blackburn was chosen to represent Great Britain after securing one silver and two bronze medals in the British Championships in Reading last September.

His father Peter said: "He will be going up against current world champions, but hopefully if he does not win this time then maybe in a couple of years time at the next one in Canada."

About £1,600 is needed to send Joshua, a pupil at Crosshill Special School, Shadsworth Road, to the week-long competition so far about half has been raised.

Joshua's main event is the butterfly and he trains with Blackburn Centurions swimming club three times a week at Daisy Field and Shadsworth swimming pools.

Cheques for £1,000 were also presented to North West Air Ambulance, Derian House, and the Blantyre Lions Club in Malawi, Africa, for a burns unit which helps children. And a £400 cheque was presented to Scope.

John Swarbrick, president of Blackburn Lions, said the 1,000th meeting was an important milestone and the group was pleased to be able to give away the money.

He added: "We are just a service organisation and we take time to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

"Unfortunately these days people are no longer service minded and small organisations like ourselves are having problems finding new members."

If you can help raise money to send Joshua to the competition e-mail peter@phaworth@wanadoo.co.uk.