A HECTIC last few days has seen a deluge of entries for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph 1997 East Lancashire Business Awards.

Now the countdown has begun to the gala presentation evening on June 27 when former Blackburn Rovers star and now multi-millionaire businessman David Whelan will be the guest speaker at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel.

Before then, our judges will be using their expertise to decide which of the entrants deserves a share of the £14,000-plus prize pot.

There have been many excellent entries for all eight of this year's categories and the judges will have a difficult task deciding which deserve special recognition.

Further details about the gala dinner will be announced shortly.

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