MILLENNIUM revellers are being offered grants to help pay for New Year parties.

Eastbourne Council has put up £15,000 to help boost celebrations in the town.

People planning events to mark the new millennium are invited to apply for cash under the new scheme, announced yesterday.

Council officials say grants will go to non-profit making groups whose celebrations will be of benefit to the town.

Leisure director Ron Cussons said: "We are very keen to see inventive and original locally-based celebrations get off the ground.We will be encouraging organisations with something new to offer Eastbourne to bid for funds."

Applications for grants should be sent to Jayne Howard, Millennium Officer, Eastbourne Borough Council, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ.

Plans are well under way for the council's own millennium bash.

The Winter Garden is to be linked live to Greenwich for the final countdown, when a huge fireworks display will herald the New Year.

A millennium parade is planned for May 27, 2000.

And a team of volunteers is putting the final touches to a millennium tapestry, which when finished will hang in the town hall.

The council is also looking at a the possibility of lighting a series of millennium beacons thoughout the town, part of a trail of beacons that will burn all over the UK. And sponsorship is being sought for a permanent millennium monument at Beachy Head.

The Compass Rose project will see a marble compass set flush into the ground close to the Countryside Centre.

Anyone who can help with any of the planned celebrations can call Jayne Howard on 01323 415410.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.