MR STRAW is a huge Blackburn Rovers fan, but we don't mean the Home Secretary.

This particular Mr Straw is a dedicated midfielder - so dedicated he spends all his time on a trailer at Long Lane Farm just off the M61 at Chorley.

The 15-foot figure, stuffed with straw, is the club's latest and most innovative signing.

And Mr Straw's sign, pictured, clearly visible from the motorway, reads: "Welcome to Blackburn Rovers country." Alan McColgan, business development manager at Ewood Park, said: "We are constantly looking at eye-catching ways to increase brand awareness and believe we have come up with a real winner here.

"It took a lot of careful planning to set this up, but we are delighted with the result - he looks great."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.