A LUCKY winner will get star treatment to switch on Blackburn's landmark Christmas star on Thwaites brewery.

Instead of bringing in a celebrity, Thwaites are organising a prize competition to raise money for charity.

The winner will get to throw the switch and will be treated like a star.

He or she will ride in a chauffeur driven stretched limousine, provided by Co-operative Funeral Service, Mincing Lane.

And after the lighting-up ceremony there will be a slap-up meal at one of Thwaites top hostelries.

Would-be stars are being asked to make a £1 donation to the Thwaites Millennium Appeal, which aims to raise £30,000 to pay for a mini-bus for the Help The Aged charity.

Julie Abbott, from the Thwaites' Millennium Appeal Committee, said: "The star can be seen for miles around and is a sign that Christmas has well and truly arrived.

"We usually have a celebrity to switch on the star, but this time around we wanted to do something special to mark the new Millennium. "The offer from the Co-operative Funeral Service was really kind gesture and we are very grateful."

Bob Griffin, senior director of the funeral service, added: "We are only too delighted to be able help such a worthy cause and such a smashing competition.

"For many people, the switching on of the star signals the start of Christmas in Blackburn and this is a great prize for someone to win."

The plan is to turn on the illumination during the first weekend of December and people are being urged to get entries in as soon as possible.

Anyone wanting to enter have to simply guess how high the star stands from the ground at its highest point.

All entries and donations should be sent to Julie Abbott, Thwaites Millennium Appeal, Thwaites Brewery, PO Box 50, Star Brewery, Blackburn, BB1 5BU.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.