PLANS for Lancashire's grandest Millennium event - to be held in Preston - have been unveiled by Lancashire County Council.

Worldwish 3000 will take place at Preston North End's Deepdale ground on June 25, 2000, and provide 40 youth organisations from across the county with an opportunity to present their vision for life in the third Millennium.

The groups to take part will be chosen from hundreds of schools, youth clubs, uniformed organisations etc, across the county - excluding Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen - who are expected to submit their plans for life beyond 2000.

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.

But the event isn't just about looking to the future - visitors to Deepdale will be able to look back to the past as well.

Thanks to virtual reality, those attending the event will be able to step back into the past ( see artisit's impression) and see what Lancashire was like hundreds of years ago and witness some of the county's famous events, such as being the first person to view Lancashire from the top of Blackpool Tower or watching the Pendle witches being hanged.

They will also be able to look at what life in Lancashire is expected to look like in the future. Each year visited will be sponsored by a local firm.

The event is the brainchild of Events North West, who has joined forces with other companies to form the Worldwish consortium.

County Council leader John West said: "This will be the event for the millennium in Lancashire.

"We believe that the millennium is a year-long event so the summer is the best time to hold this extravaganza.

"The youth are the future, there ideas are important and I am sure they will teach us a lot."

Eric Ormerod, from Events North West, added: "Deepdale is the obvious location. Its centrality in terms of the county is a benefit, it is a natural arena and the club are keen to get involved.

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