A HAT-TRICK of tourist attractions have truly made their "marque" in a national competition to celebrate Y2K.

The East Lancashire Railway, Burrs Country Park and Radcliffe's Outwood Trail have each been given a Millennium Marque.

The three plaques, awarded by the Tidy Britain Group, have now been unveiled and judges say the winning projects are testimony to the work of local people.

The projects were inspected over five years by a team including members from the tourism and conservation industries along with town planners.

Professor Graham Ashworth, Tidy Britain Group vice-chairman, said: "Throughout the coming years when people visit these sites they will be reminded of how, at the turn of the Millennium, people took an interest in caring for their environment. "I hope these examples of active citizenship serve to remind others that protecting the environment is a process that involves us all. "

The judges said that the ELR steam railway, which runs an eight-mile route to Rossendale, had done much to preserve the heritage of the area in a sustainable way. Recycled materials were used to help restore the line to its former glory.

Of the Burrs Country Park, the panel said: "The project has seen the re-development of derelict water mills and waterways into a popular educational resource."

And comments about the Outwood Trail included: "The former stretch of abandoned railway has been transformed into a greenway carrying the National Cycle Route, the Irwell Sculpture Trail and a bridlepath."

Councillor Derek Boden, leader of Bury Council, said that winning one award would have been impressive, never mind three.

"These are projects which have had and will continue to have a significant impact on the local community," he said.

"The awards are a landmark in recognising the sheer quality of the projects, the amount of effort that has been put into restoring them and bringing them back into public use and their place in the future."