MORE than a dozen East Lancashire watering holes have made it into a new book promoting pubs with atmosphere and character.

Hidden Inns of Lancashire and Cheshire is a handy guide to more than 100 traditional pubs, giving a well-written and detailed description of the food and drink available.

A page is devoted to each inn, with a line drawing of the exterior, directions to it and handy information such as opening hours, entertainment, local places of interest and whether or not you can stay overnight.

The book also lists the history of the various areas featured -- North, East and West Lancashire, West Cheshire and the Wirral, Central Cheshire and East Cheshire -- and brief but fascinating descriptions of villages and towns en route.

Among the local pubs featured are: the Coach and Horses, Bolton by Bowland; the Black Bull Inn, Ribchester; Hark to Bounty, Slaidburn; Higher Buck Inn, Waddington; the Albion Alehouse, Clayton-le-Moors; the Flowers Inn, Bacup; the Lord Nelson, Langho; the Whitchaff Inn, Rawtenstall; Roggerham Gate Inn, Briercliffe and the Moorcock Inn, Blacko.

Hidden Inns of Lancashire and Cheshire is published by Travel Publishing Ltd at £5.99 and is on sale at all good bookstores. More information on www.travel- publishing.co.uk The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has 10 copies of Hidden Inns of Lancashire and Cheshire to be won.

To stand a chance of winning, answer the following:

Name three East Lancashire breweries still producing real ale.

Send your answers on a postcard or sealed-down envelope, together with your name, address and a daytime telephone number, to: Hidden Inns competition (editorial), Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 1HT. Entries must arrive by Thursday, January 31. Usual Lancashire Evening Telegraph rules apply.