BLACKBURN town centre proved right on track for an army of volunteers taking part in one of the biggest and most spectacular charity events ever staged in Lancashire.

The 2002 Multiple Sclerosis North West Awareness Campaign, held all this week, took the form of a unique travel relay involving rickshaws, vintage motorcycles and buses, trams and even a mechanical bath.

Twenty MS branches have joined forces to draw attention to the chronic disease, passing a baton and linking Kendal with a grand finish in Manchester.

Blackburn brewers Daniel Thwaites are sponsoring the awareness campaign for a second successive year and this week their famous shire horses and dray were on hand to carry the baton through Blackburn town centre.

The gentle giants will also lead the celebrations in Manchester city centre at 1pm today before finishing at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. "This could prove our best-ever event in terms of profile and fund-raising," said Brian Horn, who is co-ordinating the relay.

"We have the backing and support of some excellent sponsors, particularly Thwaites who have assisted us in a variety of ways."