A COPY of your favourite free weekly, the Citizen, will be read by future generations after having been included in a time capsule buried by Red Rose 999.

Our newspaper was contained in the capsule, which also enclosed mementos from Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers football clubs, and a tape of the station's first news broadcast on October 1, 1982. The capsule was buried to mark the station's new branding as Magic 999.

The stainless steel capsule, which was specially created by Bamber Bridge-based Baxi Heating, was buried on Monday morning in the station grounds at St Paul's Square.

Sir Tom Finney, pictured, chairman of the board of directors at Red Rose Radio, did the honours.

Managing director Michelle Surrell said: "Although our new station Magic 999 was officially launched on air on Monday, we wanted to cherish and preserve the memories of Red Rose 999.

"Our listeners came up with all sorts of interesting suggestions of what to include in the capsule and we placed them alongside the other tributes to the station.'

Michelle added: "We are really excited about the Magic launch, as our listeners have told us in research that they are looking forward to us playing really great tunes."

Magic 999 took over the Red Rose 999 mantle on Friday, ready for the official launch.

Editor of the Preston and Leyland Citizens, Naomi Bunting, said: "I am delighted that our newspaper has been chosen to be incorporated into the Red Rose 999 capsule. We hope that it will prove to be informative and interesting for future generations."

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