PIGEON fanciers across East Lancashire are delighted to see the return of the Lancashire Telegraph Cup.

Members of the Blackburn and District Federation will once again compete for the trophy which has been resurrected for the forthcoming season.

The Federation will compete for the cup in a one-off race - a 306 mile flight from Lessay in the south of France on July 19.

"I remember competing for the cup when I was a youngster," said Terry Slattery, Accrinington and District Homing Society's longest serving member.

"It was the most prestigious competition to win and we are all delighted to see it return.

"The race we have chosen is one of the longest in the race calendar with birds in flight for up to 11 hours.

"So whoever wins it, will thoroughly deserve to do so."

It's a boost for the sport which has been affected by the Bird Flu scare.

"At the moment, pigeons are classed alongside chickens as birds are risk.

"But experts have proved that pigeons have a very high immune system against the virus and that is something we are trying to get DEFRA to recognise."

Meanwhile the sport is proving to be as popular as ever and Terry has just returned from pigeon's breeding exhibition at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool - the biggest of its kind in Europe.

The event raised more than £5,000 for charity.