BLACKBURN Rover's Premiership status will finally be laid to rest later this year - thanks to a bizarre Bamber Bridge ceremony.

According to local legend, whenever either Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End are relegated a mock funeral, complete with coffin, is held.

And when either team is promoted, a resurrection is held to celebrate.

The PNE coffin was last raised from its home - in the cellar of the Trade Hall in Station Road, Bamber Bridge - when the team was promoted to Division Two in 1996. A carnival was held in the village and the coffin was paraded around the streets in front of barmy PNE fans as part of the ritual, which dates back to 1948.

However, following Rovers' disappointing drop from the Premiership this season, it will be the other coffin which will be paraded around Bamber Bridge before being buried, never to be seen again until Rovers are promoted - or even relegated - in the future.

A meeting of the Funeral Committee will take place on Sunday morning to arrange the day. And Coun Tom Hanson, one of the members of the committee says although the passing of Rovers' Premiership status is a sad fact, the day itself should be enjoyable.

Said Tom: "This tradition dates back to 1948 and always attracts a crowd. We parade the coffin around Bamber Bridge before reverently lowering into the ground in front of the Trade Hall."

Tom added: "The pubs remain open and we have a charity gala night in the evening. We thought it may have been twice the occasion with PNE making it to the play-offs. It certainly would have been unusual to resurrect one coffin and bury the other at the same time!"

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