THE Bury Times is throwing its weight behind two of the town's institutions to keep them alive and kicking.

GOAL NUMBER ONE is to help keep Bury Football Club afloat until the end of the season and then beyond.

The Shakers, founded in 1885, need £200,000 to stay in business and we are launching a campaign to help them reach their target.

GOAL NUMBER TWO is to resurrect Bury Carnival, scrapped last year after 30 years. In conjunction with Bury Lions Club, we are now stepping in to stage the carnival on June 10 at Chesham Fields.

We are calling on the support of the public and businesses of Bury to back us in our efforts to stop these long-standing traditions being consigned to the town's history books.

A host of celebrities and former Bury players are backing the Bury Times "Save Our Shakers" appeal. And we will honour everyone who donates £5 or more to the cause by publishing their name in a special sponsors' roll-of-honour.

Boxing star Ady Lewis pulled no punches as he helped to launch our campaign yesterday (Thurs Jan 25).

Ady, who is preparing to fight for the British and Commonwealth bantamweight title next month, said: "It would be a tragedy for the town if Bury FC folded.

"It's great that the Bury Times have got behind the team and I hope they can help get the club through to the end of the season.

"I have enjoyed going down to Gigg Lane since I was a lad when my dad used to take me.

"The first big match there I remember was when we played West Ham in the League Cup in the early 1980s. We lost 2-1 in the first leg then 10-0 in the second leg at Upton Park, but I didn't let that put me off!"

Bury Lions had to reluctantly pull the plug on the Carnival last year and are delighted that it is to return to the town's summer calendar.

President Mike Davis said: "We had struggled for a few years and to have a large company in the town, like the Bury Times Group, come forward is a tremendous boost."