YOUNG and old will come together to launch Blackburn's biggest environmental event to mark the new millennium.

And the search is now on to find a youngster who will light the beacon to officially open the new sculpture trail on May 31.

Groundwork Blackburn, in conjunction with the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, is running a competition to find one to do the job.

He or she will perform the task jointly with one of the borough's senior citizens drawn from a shortlist of its oldest residents.

Project co-ordinator Jason Brindle said: "It will bring together a person born at the beginning of the century and one born at the end.

"This seemed an appropriate way to launch an scheme which will take us into the new millennium."

Youngsters up to 16 are asked to write in no more than 20 words about the importance of the new millennium to them or the borough. School pupils and community groups have been busy working on 21 sculptures which will eventually form the trail near Ewood Park.

Each sculpture will mark the location of a time capsule, containing articles, personal items, photographs and video tapes representing Blackburn since 1900.

Groundwork Blackburn's "Time and Place" project has the backing of the Millennium Commission.

It is part of Groundwork's "Changing Places" scheme, a £45 million regeneration programme for 21 sites around the country.

Apart from launching the event, the winners also gets a camera, T-shirts and sweatshirts.

Entries should be sent to Mr Brindle at Groundwork Blackburn, Bob Watts Building, Nova Scotia Wharf, Bolton Road, Blackburn, by Wednesday next.

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