CONGLETON and Alsager will be celebrating the year 2000 in true artistic style after winning thousands of pounds from the Millennium Festival Fund.

The £20,000 grant was won by Congleton borough council, and will be used to pay for a borough-wide arts project to celebrate the new Millennium.

The project is called Light Year 2000, and will provide the opportunity to explore the culture and heritage of towns across the borough.

''The spiritual, cultural and scientific aspects of light are the core to the project,'' said borough arts development officer Carol McGregor.

''The significance of Jodrell Bank's scientific identity is also recognised by placing it as the central venue for the project.

"The aim of the project is to bring local people and professional artists together, and I'm sure Light Year 2000 will be a great success.

''The £20,000 grant from the festival fund will allow communities and artists to make their own mark and express what the Millennium means to them.''

The project will be launched at Jodrell Bank in March 2000 to coincide with National Science Week.

The following six months will explore the theme of light through a series of professional artists' residences based in each of the five towns of the borough.

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