COUNTY campaigners are urging people to celebrate their 'Red Rose' roots today by marking Lancashire Day - even though many Lancastrians admit they've never heard of it!

St Patrick's Day on March 17 has long been a time for celebration while some proud patriots wave the red and white flag of St George on April 23.

Even the white rose county of Yorkshire has been celebrating its own special day, on August 1, since the mid-1970s.

But for those looking to be loyal to Lancashire, November 27, is the day.

Now campaigners from the Friends of Real Lancashire - a non political organisation concerned about the erosion of the county's identity after the local government re-organisations of 1974 and 1998 - want people to mark the county's anniversary.

In the run up to today and across Lancashire proud Lancastrians have been organising suppers, festivals and dialect poetry nights to mark the event. A number of events are being held across the county today when a Proclamation will be read out by town criers:

"Know ye that this day, November 27 in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Four, in the 53rd year of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster - is Lancashire Day.

"Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby, are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.

"Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea Cost to the Pennines this day shall mark the people's pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

"God bless Lancashire and God save the Queen Duke of Lancashire."

Chris Dawson, chairman of the Friends of Real Lancashire, said: "Lancashire Day is growing year by year and it is super to see people celebrating their county spirit.

"Lancashire's identity is under threat and more people need to be made aware of that."