A FOOTBALL-MAD family has been thrust into soccer conflict as East Lancashire prepares to cheer on England in the battle for a place in the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

The Brooks family, who used to live in Bacup, Rossendale spent 10 years in Setubal, Portugal, so the children, who are now grown up, feel Portugal is their home.

So whilst mum, Stella, 43, a language teacher at Fearns High School, Stacksteads, and dad, Stephen, 59 - a former vicar at St Stephen's Church, Bacup - will be cheering for Sven and the boys tonight, Rachel, 22, Joanna, 20 and Andrew, 19, are hoping Portugese wonder boy Ronaldo will secure his team a victory.

Mrs Brooks said: "We are a family in turmoil. I know that the kids desperately want Portugal to win, whereas their dad will be behind England all the way."

One Blackburn pub is flying a flag with a difference for England today. The Knowles Arms, on Pleckgate Road, was given the giant flag which is rumoured to have flown on the Ark Royal flagship, during the Falklands War.

Licensee Vincent Gates, said: "We think the flag was taken by a paratrooper as a joke after the conflict."

Blackburn brewers, Daniel Thwaites, have been working round the clock to make sure football fans will have enough beer to celebrate an England win.

A spokesman from the brewery said: "England's continued progress in Euro 2004 is good news for all concerned and we shall certainly be backing the lads against Portugal tonight."

The Postal Order pub, Darwen Street, Blackburn, is raffling off an England shirt before every game to raise money for the charity Challenging Leukemia and Cancer in Childhood.

Bradley Hollingsworth, licensee, said: "The support behind our boys has been amazing and the atmosphere in the pub has been great."

Rishton's Park View Nursery is flying the flag for England in Euro 2004, with a blooming lovely St George's cross flower display made from Busy Lizzies.

Garden centre manager Nick Hills spent a day planting the flowers at the entrance to the nursery.

Smaller footie-themed flower displays have been planted elsewhere around the site. The plants should flower for weeks - and hopefully the England football team will remain in the competition for just as long.