LOCAL history lovers are missing out on the chance to make their mark on the Millennium.

Soroptimist International are pulling together a huge history-making Parish Map in time for the celebration, and are appealing to more people from the Leigh, Lowton, Astley, Tyldesley and Atherton areas to join the project.

The Wigan branch wants to stitch up all districts in the Metro to be represented on the Bayeux Tapestry-like memorial masterpiece, which will record the merits of the area in textiles.

The deadline for submission of pieces of work will be early summer - so get cracking.

Two exhibitions of the work submitted so far have been organised at the Turnpike Gallery, Leigh, from Wednesday for a week and at Wigan's History Shop until April 10.

The organisers will also take the project to the people at the Turnpike this Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Map co-odinator, Marion Andrews, said: "We would like more people from the Leigh side of the borough to play a part. Although Leigh will be represented, the main contributors at present are the schools, who are portraying their own buildings and playgrounds.

"We are asking people to think about what is of value to them in the community - then go on to depict it in textile form.

"All of the pieces submitted for the project will eventually be brought together to form a giant map, which will paint a picture of everything important to the people of the borough at the time.

"There are many forms of textile mediums which don't involve picking up a needle and thread at all - so it does encourage contribution from lots of different people.

"Children as young as five are playing their part.

"We want all 14 districts represented, and participants can include anything they feel is important from their vicinity i.e. trees, flowers, play areas, people, traditions.

"All they have to do is depict their subjects in textile form - sewing, knitting, embroidery, tapestry, collage, rag rugging, even fabric crayons.

"All the district pieces will be brought together by an artist and then all 14 maps will be joined to make the people's impression of the borough."

The massive memorial will then be hung in a public place after touring the area.

Anyone wanting to take part, or who is unsure what to do and needs some professional help, should go along to meetings at the Professional Development Centre, Park Road, Hindley, between 7pm and 8.30pm on every third Wednesday in the month, or ring Marion on 01257 426610 for details.

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