CARL Hutton is the man who will lead Blackburn's celebrations to mark the start of the 21st century.

HE has been given the task of co-ordinating the 52 themed weeks Blackburn with Darwen Council has planned for the year 2000.

Already the council has won £80,000 from the Millennium Festival Fund to help pay for events planned during the 52 weeks which range from South Asia Festival Week, to Spanish Week and 1940s week.

And extra money has been set aside from council coffers to fund events which people from the borough may want to stage as part of one of the themed weeks.

Carl gained experience of dealing with events with an international flavour as he worked as an organiser of the Euro 96 football tournaments to co-ordinate events around matches which took place at Leeds United's Elland Road ground.

The new man says he will be out and about in future weeks meeting people and making contact with community groups.

He added: "I am very much looking forward to the challenge of the next few months."

Anybody who would like to contact the millennium team with an idea for an event should write to Carl at West Park Lodge, West Park Road, Blackburn or telephone the millennium hotline on 01254 682000.

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