ORGANISERS of the Billinge Millennium Beacon, which will be lit on the top of Billinge Hill on New Year's Eve, have asked people not to visit the site after dark.

The event has been organised by Billinge Parish Council and St Helens Council as part of an official national programme to bring in the year 2000 but there will be no other activities held at the Beacon site and in view of the steep and uneven terrain in the area, organisers have advised people against visiting the site in the dark but to view it from a distance instead.

For details on suitable viewing areas, contact St Helens 894448/893102.

Knowsley-based Clarke Energy have supplied a new Millennium Flare to light up the Billinge Beacon. More commonly used to burn off landfill gas or waste gas in industrial applications, the propane-fuelled flare produces a bright flame over two metres high which should be visible for miles around.

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