VILLAGERS are planning a massive celebration next month in celebration of their greatest vegetable export - the humble potato.

Awards For All, part of the Big Lottery Fund, has chipped in with financial backing after organisers wrote requesting help for an event which would bring Little Leigh together and also help raise much-needed funds for the village hall.

The three-day extravaganza runs from Friday, September 29, until Sunday, October 1, with a whole variety of events designed to put the village and its famous produce in the spotlight.

St Michael's Church will be decorated for the occasion, with each window having a potato-themed display, and potatoes will no doubt be a major feature of the traditional harvest supper and quiz on the Friday evening.

On the Saturday afternoon there will be a potato-themed sports day on one of the fields featuring a potato and spoon race, potato shot-put and potato 'wanging'.

There will also be a competition for the Best Dressed Potato Character, a chance to do some potato printing and a fish and chip van providing refreshments.

The village hall will play host to an exhibition devoted to artifacts reflecting the heritage of the village including maps, stories and old photographs with prizes awarded for the best old photo, best current photo and best village anecdote.

Matthew Veasey, chairman of Little Leigh Parish Council, said: 'Creating a record of the history and heritage of the village is important. We've already found the entry in the Domesday Book - we just need to bring it up-to-date a little!

'We'd really like to hear from anyone in the village who may have old photos and maps. If your think you've got some good stories about characters in the village, let us know and we'll come and listen to them, record them on a tape recorder, and then type them up for everyone to read. If we get enough, we may even publish them in a booklet.'

The celebrations will reach their peak on Saturday evening when the village holds a repeat of the massively successful Trafalgar Day party held last October. There will be a ceilidh barn dance and live band, local beers and baked potatoes as the main course.

On the Sunday there will be a special service at St Michael's followed by a hearty brunch served up in the hall. In the afternoon there will be a treasure hunt called Hunt The Golden Potato.

* For more information, call Matthew on 01606 891541 or e-mail potato@littleleigh.net.