DINERS caught sight of megastar Mick Jagger at one of East Lancashire's high-class restaurants recently.

The ageing Rolling Stone rocker even rang the venue in advance to ask if he was allowed to wear jeans for dinner before he arrived with a small party believed to include his 90-year-old dad.

The venue, today refused to confirm whether he dropped in, saying only: "Anyone visiting us does so in complete confidence."

But if Mick did drop in on East Lancashire, he is in good company.

Nino's Italian in Rawtenstall must surely put all other restaurants to shame. In recent years a glittering array of stars from TV and football have been tempted by its family atmosphere.

The best part of a North West first eleven football team has dropped in for a plate of pasta. David Beckham, brothers Gary and Philip Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Kevin Gallagher, Colin Hendry, not to mention managers Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce have all been spotted.

They have been joined, although not necessarily at the same time, by Coronation Street stars Barbara Knox and Bacup 11-year-old Sam Aston, who play Rita and Chesney respectively, and Emmerdale actors Patsy Kensit and Steve Halliwell, who plays Zak Dingle.

Alex Pillitteri, restaurant director, said: "We seem to attract a lot of celebrities here, but none of them act like stars. They don't ask for anything special, they just bring their families, enjoy the meal and often leave a good tip - anywhere between £5 and £20."

Meanwhile, the Feilden Arms, in Mellor Brook, has been known to attract the odd high-flyer from the world of politics, sport and TV. Two years ago one such visitor, snooker star Dennis Taylor, even requested a birthday cake in the shape of a snooker table.

Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is a regular visitor - sea bass and steak are among his favourites - while former Tory Home Secretary Norman Tebbitt even popped in for lunch.

The great and the good are also among the regulars at Heathcote's restaurant in Longridge. Actor Roy Barraclough, aka Alec Gilroy from Coronation Street, regularly drops by, as did former Rovers manager Graeme Souness before he moved to Newcastle.

Assistant manager Joe Hills said: "They always tip well but then again most people do who come here."

Former Take That singer Jason Orange and local actor Jody Latham, who starred in Channel 4's Shameless, are regulars in the Thai restaurant at Rood Bar, in Barrowford.

Superbike champion Carl Fogarty, from Blackburn, heads for Yu and You Chinese restaurant, on the A59 at Copster Green, with wife Michaela.

" I really like it in there. It's crept in recently as my number one, which is great because it's so local," he said.

The Bay Horse in Fence is number one for Burnley's Craig Heap, twice British gymnastics champion. He said: "It has some of the best food I have ever had and when ever any of my friends come that is where I taken them."

Ex-BBC weather man John Ketley, from Todmorden, said: "I used to go in the Kettledrum Inn at Cliviger. It's great for a cosy chip buttie and a pie."

Soccer greats Ian Wright and Paul Gascoigne have also dined in there.