RIOTS, Acid House parties, New Age travellers and the country's most famous motorway protest would be more than enough for any police officer to deal with in their whole career.

For Chief Superintendent Tony Ellwood it has been just part of his nine years in Blackburn.

Now the 50-year-old is leaving the town to take up the post of head of uniform operations for Lancashire Constabulary.

"Most of things that could have happened to a Chief Super have happened here!" said Mr Ellwood who is leaving for headquarters in a fortnight.

"This is without question the busiest division in the constabulary. But I have enjoyed working here tremendously and I will be very sorry to leave, although I'm looking forward to taking up an important role in the force."

His new post will see him heavily involved in major public order events such as the Tory Party Conference and Royal Visits and also responsible for support units such as the mounted police, underwater search team and the force helicopter. Despite being based at Hutton, Mr Ellwood said he is determined to maintain a 'hands on' role - a role that has seen him in full protective riot gear on the streets of Blackburn more than once.

Perhaps the most major single incident during his command was the riot that erupted in Whalley Range three years ago.

"That was a very sad day for Blackburn, but it was a tribute to everyone involved that it was resolved swiftly."

The clampdown on Acid House parties and the Stanworth Wood motorway protest, both put policing in Blackburn under the national spotlight.

"The Stanworth Wood protest in particular was seen by many as a watershed in the policing of such events across the country." And Mr Ellwood, who lives in Chorley and is married with a teenage daughter, paid tribute to the officers under his command at Blackburn. "They work under considerable demands and give a first-class service."

Rochdale-born Mr Ellwood began his career in the force 34 years ago as a cadet in Wigan and Leigh and moved to Stretford before serving as a sergeant at Southport and Chorley. He became an inspector and then chief inspector at Skelmersdale, before moving to Chorley where he was later appointed superintendent.

Spells as sub commander at Preston and second in command at Chorley followed, before he came to Blackburn as second in command of the Eastern division. In 1991 he was appointed chief superintendent.

As he prepares to clear his desk, pack up his paperclips and say his farewells, Mr Ellwood is looking forward to his last duty for the town - accompanying the Rovers party to Warsaw.

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