ENTRANTS in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Grimewatch competition can now turn to one of the North West's top environmental experts for advice.

Ron Freethy, the Evening Telegraph's own nature correspondent, has been appointed Grimewatch co-ordinator for the 1999 competition.

He is just a phone call away for anyone with a problem or query about the competition.

Ron, 62, has had a long association with Grimewatch. He has been on the judging panel since its launch 11 years ago.

That means he knows exactly what is involved in entering the competition and is well-placed to help entrants with any problems.

His association with the Lancashire Evening Telegraph stretches back even further.

He first wrote for the Evening Star, the Telegraph's former sister paper, in 1971, and continues to write columns for the Telegraph today.

Ron, who is originally from Lake District, is a PhD biologist and the author of 83 books, including text books about birds and others on wildlife and conservation.

He also has 15 years' experience in television and has worked on programmes for both Granada and the BBC.

He has been a biological adviser for 30 years, has recently taken on the post of communications manager for the Mersey Basin Campaign, and will be editing the campaign's magazine, The Campaigner.

He said he was delighted to take on the role of Grimewatch co-ordinator as the competition moves into the new millennium. "It is the leader in its field. The Telegraph was the first newspaper that really got to grips with the environment and what the readers of the newspaper could do," he said.

"It looked like pie in the sky when it was launched because at that time very few people were thinking that anything could be done about the environment.

"I honestly do not think anybody envisaged that Grimewatch would be so successful and innovative as it has been. It has never lost its drive."

Ron can supply entry forms for the competition and offer advice and guidance on how to prepare a final report on projects for the judges.

He can be contacted on 01254 678678 ext 244, Mondays and Thursdays. Messages can be left at other times, or you can ring him on his mobile, 0850 784429.

He can also be contacted by fax on 01254 680429, by e-mail at vcowan@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk, or in writing at Grimewatch, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Newspaper House, High Street, Blackburn BB1 1HT.

It's so easy to get involved!

GRIMEWATCH rewards all kinds of environmental projects which help make East Lancashire a nicer place in which to live. There are categories to suit all kinds of schemes, from small-scale recycling projects to large waste-reduction initiatives, with sections for schools, community groups, businesses, local authorities and individuals, as well as heritage and long-term projects.

There are cash prizes in some categories and trophies for all winning entries.

The competition is run in conjunction with Groundwork, British Aerospace, the Environment Agency and the Tidy Britain Group.

Entering is simple - just contact our new co-ordinator, Ron Freethy, and he will give you full details.

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