A POPULAR annual sports quiz is to return to Darwen after more than 35 years.

Darwen Sports Council is to relaunch the Inter-pub and Club Sports Quiz at the end of this month to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The quiz was a major talking point in the town in the 1960s and veterans have already said they will be rejoining the fun.

Harold Heys was the inspiration behind the quiz and is the driving force behind bringing it back to life.

He said: "The idea came from a Darwen man who came down from Scotland. He'd been to a few quizzes up there."

Harold also captained Darwen's Cemetery pub quiz team, which enjoyed success in the Thwaites Blackburn Quiz League.

Linda, Cancer Research UK fundraiser for Darwen, will work alongside Harold to get the quiz back up and running.

She said: "We run very successful general knowledge quizzes for Cancer Research but this will be something a bit different. We hope everyone will support it and give our branch a big boost."

Organisers expect the event to be an "experts reunion" with the quiz veterans from 30 years ago.

Harold said: "There is a lot of interest from people who want a crack at the title. Back in the 1960s most pubs in Darwen entered and early winners include teams from Anchor Hotel and a group of the town's policemen."

The quiz will be at Bolton Road Conservative Club on February 28. Teams of four from pubs, clubs and local groups are invited for a £6 entry fee.

All proceeds will go to Cancer Research. For more information, contact Harold on 01254 702144.