THERE'S a chance to be part of a once-in-a-1,000-years event in Leominster on Saturday.

As the town's special contribution to the Millennium celebrations, thousands of people are expected to join hands round the town at midday to form the Leominster Loop.

"This is the cusp year, belonging to the 20th century, but starting with 20 and looking forward to the 21st," said loop organiser Dee Hudson. "So on midsummer day, Leominster will join hands and celebrate uniquely.

"If you join you will belong to an exclusive club that, after that day, no-one else can join. And you can have a badge saying 'I joined the Leominster Loop' to prove it. Anyone and everyone can join."

Hands will be joined during a 10-minute peal of bells and video cameras will record the loop for posterity.

"Then, please sign your name either at the Leominster Priory door or the marquee on the Grange and pick up your badge," said Mrs Hudson. Badges are free for children and available to adults, with a Millennium brochure, for a donation.

There's also a special chance to help sponsor a tree for the tree acrostic which will spell out Leominster Loop for the century to come. Fourteen of the tree sponsors (drawn by lot if necessary) who join the loop may nominate 14 children who also joined. They will help plant the trees and grow with them.

"We intend to plant lime, elm, oak, maple, indian bean (catalpa), nut, spruce, thorn, elm, rowan and lime, oak, oak, perry pear," said Dee Hudson.

"The oaks are already spoken for, they have been grown from Leominster acorns. Disease-resistant elms have been promised, a walnut is sprouting as are two lime seedlings.

"We are choosing a perry pear because both tree and drink are special to Herefordshire so in a way are unique to us, as is the Leominster Loop."