YOUNG athletes from all over the county will be displaying their talents when they head for the Borough for the fourth annual Lancashire Youth Games.

The event is a curtain-raiser for next year's Millennium Youth Games when a team from Lancashire will be competing against other counties in a big national tournament.

More than 3,000 boys and girls aged between 12 and 16 are expected to take part in the games, which take place on the weekend of June 26 and 27 and involve various sports including football, athletics, basketball, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and tennis.

Councillor Kate Hollern, chair of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's Leisure, Sport and Cultural Services Committee said: "We are delighted to be hosting the Lancashire Youth Games once again and I am sure they will prove to be a tremendous boost for the Borough. The tournament will be among the biggest sporting events of its kind in the country with up to 3,000 competitors taking part."

She added: "I look forward to welcoming the young athletes for what promises to be a wonderful weekend for both competitors and spectators."

Youngsters from Blackburn with Darwen wishing to take part can go along to a series of trials between May 12 and June 7. Details of the trials, which will be held at Witton Park, Audley Sports Centre, Blackburn Rugby Club, Corporation Park and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, can be obtained from the borough's Sport Development Officer Siraz Natha on 01254 587662.

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