STANLEY Park is set to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its opening this year by planting commemorative trees -- and is appealing for sponsors for the project.

The plan to plant 50 common lime trees will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Festival of Britain when 51 trees were planted in the park to commemorate the event.

Each new tree will cost sponsors £40 -- the rest of the cost will be subsidised by Blackpool Council. Organisers of the project, the Parks Department and Blackpool Civic Trust, are hoping that firms, organisations or individuals will pay to dedicate a tree.

Certificates of honour will be presented to each subscriber and a Scroll of Remembrance will be on show in the Central Library.

Sponsors will also be able to attend the tree planting, which is due to take place in November or December to coincide with National Tree Week.

Justine Hall, of the Parks Department, said that the new trees will be planted along Cocker Walk -- the road that runs from the corner of East and West Park Drive to the clock tower.

"We are going to recreate the avenue on Cocker Walk. The poplar trees are going to stay initially as nurse plants and will be removed later.

"Originally the Festival of Britain trees were ornamental cherries, but we will be putting limes in because we are going for a more formal look," she said.

Elaine Smith of the Civic Trust said that many of the original trees are no longer growing because of either age or vandalism.

"They planted the original trees at the time of the Festival of Britain which was in May. But you are not supposed to plant trees until around December, so half of them died," she said.

There are 19 tree sponsors so far. Anyone wanting to sponsor a tree should contact Justine Hall at the Parks Department on 478428.