HEAR YE lads and lasses of East Lancashire - get ready to take part in the biggest charity event in the region.

This was the rallying cry of Joe Baron as he walked the streets of Blackburn at the weekend.

He was heralding of the 1996 Scanner Day - a fund-raising extravaganza on Saturday, June 8, with hours of street entertainment planned and special offers in many shops.

The day is organised as part of Celebration '96, and aims to give a super boost to the £1 million East Lancashire appeal to buy a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for the region.

If you come to the town centre on this day, there will be performances by the Ossie Clog Dancers and tap, step aerobics, and kick-boxing displays.

The Salvation Army Band, Darwen Brass Band, ATC Cadet Band, New Orleans Jazz Band, two school choirs, Scottish piper and ukelele player will provide the music.

Mr Blobby, Wallace and Gromit, Donald Duck, and Priscilla the SuperScan parrot, will be make appearances, and in Victoria Court, a disco, Punch and Judy show and balloon crafts are earmarked.

Asda and Morrisons will be joining-in with their own programme of fun events, and shops are also holding collections.

"This is going to be the biggest and best event in the North-west, and we want it to be a day for all the family to come to the town centre," said Terry Barber, appeal chairman for Blackburn.

"We want it to be a day of fun and happiness, and give people the chance to show their support for the SuperScan appeal."

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