IT promises to be the biggest New Year party Sussex has ever seen.

Details of a huge bash in Brighton centre were unveiled yesterday, with thousands expected to attend.

The event, the first of The Place To Be's millennium celebrations, will feature bands and DJs playing on two stages and a host of street entertainers.

Acts will include samba band Carnival Collective, ska and reggae group Deep Mamboo and roots/dance outfit The Baghdaddies.

An Indian-style procession featuring five metre- high elephant puppets will be held at the Royal Pavilion, while performers from Amiens, France, will mingle with the crowds.

About 60 guests, including local dignitaries and representatives of the arts and media, attended the launch at Donatello's restaurant in the Lanes.

Among them were Paddy Tipping MP, one of the Government ministers responsible for steps to counteract the effect of the Millennium Bug; Simon Fanshawe, chairman of The Place To Be executive and Brighton and Hove Council leader Lynette Gwyn-Jones.

He said he was "very impressed" with The Place To Be, a project to co-ordinate Brighton and Hove's bid to become a city and mark the 21st Century through community events.

The bash follows a successful trial run last New Year, when more than 9,000 revellers packed Old Steine for a night of live entertainment.

It is being produced by Zap Productions, with the Argus among media sponsors. Other features will include a radio link-up between Brighton and Hove and Amiens and a spectacular firework display.

Event director Dave Reeves said: "One thing we learnt from last year is that people in Brighton want to party.

"This year's music bill is very much upbeat, and we believe street arts are an exciting way forward for entertainment. We are trying to make it a family-friendly event.

"Brighton is a hub of talent and we have tried to make the music programme reflect that.

"It will also

be probably the biggest fireworks display Brighton has ever seen."

So, what's on ... and where ...

OLD STEINE STAGE

8pm: Sea Sound Sing

8.30pm: DJ

8.45pm: The Fruitpickers

9.45pm: DJ

10.15pm: Soul Review

11.15pm: DJ

11.45pm:The Baghdaddies

11.55pm: Countdown and fireworks

12.05am: The Bagdhaddies

VICTORIA GARDENS STAGE

8pm: Flannel

8.45pm: DJ (Russ Dewbury)

9.30pm: Deep Mamboo

10.15pm: DJ (John Warr)

11pm: Carnival Collective

11.55pm: Countdown and fireworks

12.05am: Recording

12.30pm: DJ (Roots Garden)

Music on both stages ends at 1am.

STREET THEATRE

8pm-9.30pm: Lezard Decadent, Victoria Gardens and Old Steine

8pm-8.45pm: Monster Action, Old Steine

8.15pm-9pm: M. Culbuto, Victoria Gardens to Royal Pavilion

8.30pm-9.15pm: Symusic Fusion, Victoria Gardens

9pm-9.15pm: Monster Action, Victoria Gardens

9pm-9.45pm: Duc Le Juke, Old Steine and Royal Pavilion

9.30pm-10.15pm: M. Culbuto, Old Steine

9.30pm-10.15pm: Spam-zilla, Victoria Gardens to Royal Pavilion

10pm-10.15pm: Monster Action, Victoria Gardens

10.15pm-11pm: Symusic, Royal Pavilion to Old Steine

10.15pm-11pm: Duc Le Juke, Victoria Gardens

11pm-11.15pm: Monster Action, Victoria Gardens

11pm-11.45pm: Spam-zilla, Old Steine to Victoria Gardens

Midnight-12.15pm: Monster Action, Victoria Gardens

Programme may be subject to alteration.

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