SCHOOLCHILDREN in Blackpool are to miss out on the chance to attend Lancashire's grandest Millennium event - because the town has become a unitary authority.

Around 40 youth groups and organisations from across Lancashire will converge on Preston North End's Deepdale Ground on June 25, 2000 for Worldwish 3000.

The groups to take part will be chosen from hundreds of schools, youth clubs and uniformed organisations, within Lancashire County Council's jurisdiction, who are expected to present their vision for life in the third Millennium.

But Blackpool boys and girls are to miss out because of the change in their administrative authority.

Nikki Penney, Lancashire County Council's chair of the Millennium panel, said: "We can't justify spending council tax payers' money on another authority.

"It's not vindictive in any way - simply administrative."

Blackpool's Millennium officer Sue Garlick conceded that the town would not be hosting an event as large as Worldwish 3000, but plans were in place to help people celebrate the Millennium their own way.

She continued: "Politics shouldn't come into it but we won't be taking part in the Deepdale event which is unfortunate.

"But there are lots of different activities in line such as the firework displays and civic services - but no major events.

"Rather than organise anything on that scale, we're here to help the community to celebrate the Millennium the way they want to."

The LCC event is the brainchild of Events North West, who have joined forces with other companies to form the Worldwish consortium. They will perform their vision to an audience at Deepdale and have full access to state-of-the-art technology to put their ideas across.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.