LIVES could be put at risk if police switchboards get jammed with emergency calls on the eve of the new Millennium, senior officers have warned.

The force is expecting New Year's Eve to be one of the busiest nights in its history and experts estimate around 35,000 could dial 999 during the festivities.

The fear is that anyone faced with a real emergency might not be able to get through the jammed switchboard.

Police have sent out a plea to people not to make any unnecessary calls and to be sensible about using the phone.

Some of the bizarre examples used by police to illustrate the problem include cats getting stuck up trees, bus timetable inquiries and people want answers to crossword solutions.

Superintendent Bernard Kershaw is the man responsible for organising the policing for New Year's Eve.

He said: "We hope that everyone across the county enjoys themselves over Christmas and the Millennium.

"However, if people do need the police then we would ask that they respect that 999 should only be used in real emergency situations." Superintendent Kershaw added: "In our contingency plans for the Millennium weekend the emergency services and telephone operators are planning to deal with between three and five times the number of calls received on an average Saturday night.

"We are confident we can cope but not complacent and are asking members of the public to play their part. Please think before you dial, if you have a real emergency dial 999 and stay on the line until it is answered.

"If it is not an emergency keep the line clear for someone who really needs it and use a non-emergency number."

The non-emergency numbers are:

Accrington 01254 382141 until 2am, Bacup 01282 425001 until 2am, Bamber Bridge 01772 433561 until 2am, Barnoldswick 01282 425001 until 2am, Blackburn 01254 51212 until 2am, Burnley 01282 425001 24 hours, Chorley 01257 269021 24 hours, Clitheroe 01200 443344 until 2am, Colne 01282 863161 24 hours, Darwen 01254 701777 until 2am, Great Harwood 01254 884800 until 2am, Haslingden 01282 425001 until 2am, Leyland 01772 433561 24 hours, Nelson 01254 425001 until 2am, Padiham 01282 425001 until 2am and Rawtenstall 01282 425001 24 hours.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.