A WORLDWIDE competition has been launched to find designs for six new landmarks to dominate the East Lancashire skyline.

And the group behind the £1million project today revealed where all the six new monuments -- which are expected to attract visitors from across the country -- are to be sited.

The project, which is expected to raise the profile of East Lancashire and attract interest from across the globe, was first revealed by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph earlier this month.

Mid Pennine Arts, with the support of East Lancashire's six council and Lancashire County Council, has secured funding totalling £1million to support the project.

Sculptures will be commissioned in two batches of three.

Peel Park, Accrington; Corporation Park, Blackburn and Wycoller Country Park will be home to the first three. Sculptures would then be created for sites at Kemple View, in the Ribble Valley, Crown Point in Burnley and Top o' the Slate, above Rawtenstall.

Mick Hunt, director of Mid Pennine Arts, said: "These will be more than just sculptures. They will be micro-buildings, new landmarks if you like.

"The idea is to promote use of the outdoors through footpaths, bridleways and so on.

"Having six in a series across one area is groundbreaking, but it is well-known that landmarks attract people. Darwen Tower is an example. Many people walk up to it, but would they walk up that hill if the tower was not there?

"The locations have been carefully chosen to give stunning views of East Lancashire.

"People will be able to walk up to Peel Park and sit in the building, and admire the scenery.

"In Corporation Park, the Crimean War battlements are crying out for a focal point and it affords great views too."

A group called the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network has been set up by councils and art groups to mastermind the scheme.

Mr Hunt added: "We are about to launch a competition for designs with the Royal Institute of British Architects, which has members across the world.

"We will draw up a short-list in June and hopefully pick one soon afterwards.

"We hope to have two a year put up over three years."

The monuments make up the first project in a scheme designed to turn East Lancashire into a regional park.

The Regional Park concept was announced in 2001 by the East Lancashire Partnership, made up of local councils and other groups, and is supported by £5million of Government money and private cash.

It involves projects within the boundaries of East Lancashire's six local authorities -- Blackburn with Darwen, Ribble Valley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and Burnley.