THE NEW Mayor of Horwich, Cllr Barbara Ronson, will have a dual role at this year's town carnival on Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26.

As the town's First Citizen, Cllr Ronson will be carrying out one of her first public engagements at the various events over the two days, and riding in the carnival parade on Saturday.

But she is also carnival committee chairman and will be working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the town's major summer highlight.

Mrs Ronson said: "I shall be on official duty until after the crowning of the carnival queen and after that go wherever I am needed.

"We have a very efficient team of people running the different sections, so hopefully everything will be OK."

Special guest at this year's event is actress Sandra Gough, from ITV's Emmerdale.

Sandra, who plays Nellie Dingle in the popular soap, has been missing from the screen in recent months, but next Saturday there will be no question of her whereabouts as she rides in the parade leaving Victoria Road at 12.30pm.

Afterwards she will crown the Horwich Carnival Queen Samantha Roberts, Junior Queen Amy, Princess Jennifer and Rosebud Rose-Anne at the RMI Club.

The 1996 carnival will be held at Old Station Park. Over the weekend there will be fancy dress, a football tournament, bonny baby show, tug of war, field events, bands and other attractions.

There is no entry charge and the organisers are hoping that charity and trade stalls will be well supported.

Cllr Ronson is also asking people to support the street collections.

"A great deal of work goes into the parade and it is good to see all the effort rewarded by a generous donation to the charities," she said.

It's not too late to book a stall or take part in the parade. Many local organisations have put in entries, but last minute groups will be welcome.

For more information phone 695742 (parade and sponsors), 692930 (stalls) and 695484 (field).

This year's carnival charity is Shopmobility in Horwich. A scooter is to be kept at the Resource Centre and loaned to disabled people to help them get around the town centre.

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