EAST Lancashire people do not appear to be rushing to get tickets to see the attraction billed as the biggest in Britain - the Millennium Dome.

In a straw poll of eight East Lancashire shopowners selling the tickets through the National Lottery network, only one had sold a ticket to the London attraction since they went on sale two weeks ago.

Tom Wilson of the Market Street newsagency in Colne sold the only ticket to the Dome, due to open in January.

He said: "There hasn't been much interest so far but it might pick up nearer the time."

Neil Edwards of Avenue Service Station, Accrington, said he believed the cost of the tickets, at £20 per person or £57 for a family, and the travel costs, put the Millennium Experience out of the reach of local people.

He said: "If you live in London you can just go on a tube, but it's too expensive for most people up here, especially as people can't take the car because there aren't car parks."

Spokespersons for six other petrol stations and newsagents in Darwen, Blackburn and Burnley also said they had not sold any tickets.

A spokeswoman for the New Millennium Experience said she was unable to say how many tickets had been sold nationwide but sales had surpassed expectations and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph poll was unrepresentative of the 25,000 outlets.

She said park and ride facilities would be available for car drivers, parking was available for coach parties, and tickets were available through the National Express for £30 including travel from anywhere in Britain.

She said: "We do not expect people to be rushing to buy tickets because they have a year to go to the Dome."

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