EAST Lancashire's most talented amateur golfers are teeing-off in a national competition to find the best golfing pub teams in Britain.

The Bass Ale 'Golfing Pub of the Year' competition tees off a Pleasington Golf Club, Blackburn, on April 7.

The competition, which is the largest amateur tournament of its kind, will involve 30 East Lancs teams including players from the Ashworth Arms in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall and the White Hart in Padiham Road, Sabden.

From this, which is the first round of the Northern area heats, 10 teams will progress to the area final to be held at Bradford Golf Club on Friday May 7.

The National Final will take place in Vilamoura, Portugal, in summer 2005.

Jo Gourley, from Bass Ale, said: "Last year's Pleasington heat was an extremely competitive affair.

"And this year we expect an even greater number of teams teeing off for a chance of playing in Vilamoura."