HUNDREDS of youngsters from East Lancashire will be going to the zoo, two by two, to enjoy a special children's service.

Instead of a traditional pulpit and pews there will be penguins and parrots as the congregation moves from its usual venue of Blackburn Cathedral to Blackpool Zoo.

All 600 places for the annual Big Event for Little People service on November 25 have been snapped up by under-fives from across Lancashire and their parents.

Not surprisingly the theme of the special millennium service is Noah's Ark.

"This will be a very big event indeed," said Mary Binks, children's work adviser to Blackburn Diocese.

"Mr and Mrs Noah will be arriving and we will build an Ark during the 30 minute service. The Ark will be filled with balloon animals and we will be having some songs and prayers, then everybody can have a tour of the zoo.

"We wanted to do something extra special for the millennium to open the event out a bit."

The idea of using a zoo rather than the cathedral as the venue came from the head of the zoo, Tony Williams, and the Reverend Michael Manley, a Blackpool vicar.

"We believe this service is the first of its kind here but we hope it's one of many," said Mr Williams. "We are delighted that the Blackburn Diocese has chosen Blackpool Zoo and we are now strengthening our links with the Church and talking to a local priest about the possibility of appointing a zoo chaplain."