THE people of East Lancashire are being asked to be trailblazers in an environmental initiative.

Planet Pledge 2000 aims to get as many people as possible to promise to take small steps to improve the environment.

The idea is that if everyone takes small steps to help the planet, the overall benefit will be enormous.

The group behind Planet Pledge, Going for Green, has chosen East Lancashire to launch the North West phase of the project because of the area's strong track record in environmental activity.

The group has seen the success of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Grimewatch competition, which this year attracted more than 135 entries from local community groups, schools, businesses and individuals.

David Smith, regional director of Going For Green, said: "We are now hoping the Telegraph readership will get behind this campaign.

"We want the people of East Lancashire to send a clear message to the rest of the UK that our part of the country is not just protecting but enhancing the environment.

"By signing the pledge you are doing your bit to protect the planet."

The names of all those who make the pledge will appear on a huge display called the Pathway to the 21st Century at the Earth Centre, Doncaster, from January 1, 2000.

The Earth Centre is a landmark Millennium project aimed at visitors interested in greener ways of living.

Getting involved in Planet Pledge 2000 is easy. Details appear in tonight's Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

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