FANS, MPs and community leaders united today to hail the Rovers Cup kings and roared: "Bring on the final."

Blackburn was jumping in celebration after Graeme Souness's team delivered a Worthington Cup knockout blow to Sheffield Wednesday on a glory night at Ewood.

And fans are now preparing for an exodus to the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Sunday February 24 and the club's first major cup final for 41 years.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw was given the news late last night while he was on a trip to Africa in his role as Foreign Secretary and said he was delighted.

He said: "This is excellent news for Blackburn and for Rovers. It will be a great day out for thousands of Rovers fans and I am confident it will be a successful one."

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Bill Taylor said: "It is brilliant for the club, and for the fans, but also for our borough. We saw that when Rovers won the Premiership.

"I wish the team well in the final and I will be there with my family cheering them on."

And one of the biggest smiles in Sheffield today belongs to Rovers fan Martin Seddon, 14, who lived in Blackburn until two years ago, when his family moved to Yorkshire.

"I can not wait till see my mates and take the micky," he said.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, a life-long Blackburn Rovers fan, said: "It is the first final the club will have been in during my lifetime, and I am determined to be there."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said: "I wish Blackburn Rovers all the best on what will be a very special day in Cardiff."

Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun John Williams, missed last night's game because he is still recovering from a hip operation. He said: "I was sick as a parrot that I had to miss the game but I will make sure I am at the final.

"I think Graeme Souness will be treated like a hero."

And the council leader at Hyndburn, Peter Britcliffe, added: "I think the team will take over Cardiff. We will paint their city blue and white."

Fans leaving the ground last night were jubilant.

Bernadette Slater, 39, of Oldham, said: "The atmosphere was fantastic -- especially at the end, I think that's the best for a while."

Chris Nolan, 16, a Bacup and Rawtenstall student of Crabtree Lane, Rossendale, said: "It was nerve racking and we made it hard work. But it was a good performance, especially as we only had ten men after Garry Flitcroft was sent off."

Sue Nolan, 40, of Clankett Lane, Chorley, a legal secretary, said: "The party atmosphere was brilliant and at least the players came out again at the end to salute us." Daughter Clare Nolan, 16, a Runshaw College student, said: "It was a great result and a brilliant atmosphere, especially after the first goal."

Andrew Backhouse, 15, a Bowland High School pupil of Chatburn Road, Clitheroe, said: "It was a great performance by Rovers with ten men. I can't wait to get to Cardiff -- it doesn't matter who we get in the final, we can beat Spurs and Chelsea."

Matthew Davis, 12, of a Ribblesdale High pupil of Warwick Drive, Clitheroe, said: "The atmosphere was great -- like a party."

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