FYLDE chiefs are preparing for an oriental trip of a lifetime after the town was voted as one of nine British towns and cities to take part in Nations in Bloom 2001.

The three representatives for Fylde who will be travelling to the finals in China at the end of the month, are Chief Executive Ken Lee, Mayor Pat Fieldhouse and Director of Tourism and Leisure Dave Joy.

They are set to give a presentation of the Fylde to a massive international audience and stamp Fylde's mark across the globe.

Ken Lee said: "The main theme of the awards is that we will all collate and share good practices together. The judging criteria includes enhancing the landscape, using environmentally safe practices and planning for the future.

"We are in the category of 50,000 to 300,000 population size and will be up against the likes of Rochester in New York and Malmo in Sweden."

Nations in Bloom aims to enhance the quality of life by improving the environment and creating viable, liveable communities. The event also strives to encourage the exchange of knowledge and best practice across cultural and national borders.

The British towns and cities of Fylde, Minehead, Horsham, Tunbridge Wells, Wandsworth, Worthing, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Westminster and Aberdeen are nine of 41 globe-spanning finalists that have been selected by an international judging panel of environmental experts.

It is the world's only international awards scheme addressing the management of the environment and the enhancement of quality of life and will involve 41 communities from 21 countries travelling to the award finals in Shenzhen, The People's Republic of China, from November 29 to December 3.

The founder of Nations in Bloom, Alan Smith, said: "We strive to encourage best practice, innovation and leadership in providing a vibrant, environmentally sustainable community that ultimately improves the quality of life.

"We are delighted that the standard of competition entries has improved significantly year on year, indicating the growing awareness of the importance of the positive management of the environment."

A trio of West End musical stars from such hits as 'Beauty and the Beast' will also be flying out to China to help keep the international audience entertained in between presentations.

For further information on judging criteria and general information visit the website at www.nationsinbloom.com