SHE'S been labelled the most powerful woman in the world and she's coming to Blackburn. But are the people ready for US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the world's media?

BLACKBURN market was bustling with gossip and stories yesterday but none of it was about Jack Straw and the important visitor he is bringing to town this weekend.

Many shoppers were either unaware or uninterested that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was coming to Blackburn on Friday and Saturday.

Mr Straw invited one of the masterminds behind the invasion of Iraq to the town after he visited her in Birmingham, Alabama, last year.

The 51-year-old is expected to visit a factory and a school in the region.

"I didn't know that to be honest," said Anne Evans, who runs a perfume stall at the indoor market in the town centre.

She said: "I don't think people will be bothered, many won't know she is coming either.

"I think Blackburn is a more down-to-earth place anyway so I don't think people are concerned about visits like this."

Retired pensioner Vince Gibson, of Whalley Road, Langho, said: "I don't think she will be impressed with Blackburn, that is inevitable.

"I'm not particularly interested. I disagree with the Iraq war but she is coming here and the war has started so I think most people will be welcoming."

Ismail Adam, 44, of Brunel Drive, Blackburn, said: "I think people will be split down the middle.

"Other parts of the country might be more bothered but Blackburn is a very small town. I personally don't agree with what she does.

"I think she will be impressed because the town has improved in the last couple of years when you look at places like Church Street."

Retired lecturer Dave Grogan, 63, of Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen, said Rice was just "an American dignitary" to many people.

He said: "I don't think she will be impressed because I am sure she has been to many beautiful parts of the world.

"I think 99 per cent of people won't be bothered about her involvement with the war either way.

"It is a long way away and it doesn't affect people."

Community staff nurse Amanda Flanagan, 42, of Livesy Branch Road, Blackburn, said: "I don't think that it will have any impact on the people of Blackburn.

"She has no impact whatsoever on my life or anybody else's. I think the war has got to the point where people are fed up with it and what they think doesn't have an impact anyway."

Graham Hilton, 51, of Ladyburn Road, Blackburn, said: "I am too busy to be interested in it, I have my parents in a nursing home so that takes up a lot of my time."

Mr Hilton, who is on incapacity benefit, added: "What she does makes no difference to us over here."

Sandra French, 40, of Philip Road, Little Harwood, said: "I didn't know she was coming. I'm not bothered, I have never even heard of her.

"There is nothing to impress her about Blackburn, it's scruffy and poor."

Lisa Woodcock, manager of Habiknit haberdashery in the market, said: "I didn't know she was coming. It is not something I'm interested in.

"I don't really have time more than anything else. People in bigger places like Manchester or London might be more interested."