MOST television viewers in East Lancashire will be able to enjoy the new Channel 5 when it is launched at the end of this month.

Channel 5, the UK's fifth free terrestrial television station, is due to reach 85 per cent of the population by the end of the year.

But a spokesman for the new station said most people in Lancashire would receive it without the need to have TVs and videos re-tuned.

Re-tuning has to take place in some areas to prevent interference between different signals.

However, this should not be a problem for most people in East Lancashire, said the spokesman.

"We'll be using the Winter Hill transmitter which covers five-and-a-quarter million people," he said. "There should be no need for re-tuning because of that, although in the northern reaches of Lancashire reception does get weaker.

"The main body of people will be able to get good reception but if people do have problems they should consult their local aerial dealer."

But 1,000 homes in the Shadsworth and Queen's Park areas of Blackburn have needed to have videos re-tuned, a service which is being carried out free, because they are not covered by the Winter Hill transmitter.

Police have warned the public to check the credentials of anyone offering to re-tune sets for Channel 5.

When it launches on March 30, the new station will offer 24 hours of television, seven days a week.

Advertised as "modern mainstream TV", the station will offer movies, drama, news every hour, current affairs, leisure and lifestyle, childrens shows and sport.

The package includes England's World Cup qualifier against Poland on May 31, the England rugby union match against Argentina and big film premieres including Speed, Braveheart, Broken Arrow and Independence Day.

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