ELVIS may have sung about Heartbreak Hotel -- but you're more likely to meet his local fans in an Astley Village pub.

The King's devotees gather from all over the North West at the Inn on the Park, Hallgate, for quarterly Lancashire branch sessions of the Elvis Presley fan club of Great Britain.

Branch organiser, 43-year-old Paul Smith, who lives in Bolton, sighs gently when asked if everyone dresses up in Elvis flares for the meetings.

"You wouldn't believe how many times I have been asked," he says.

It seems dancing to Elvis music and catching up on events and news is more the order of the day.

"The meeting has a very family feel. Once you are there you share the same common bond with everyone else who is there," said Paul.

"One of the nicest things is you do get people of every age and type. There are no barriers for people to be an Elvis fan. And you get a lot of young fans -- a lot of 20-somethings enjoy the music." Paul has been a fan of Elvis since childhood. "I have two older brothers and both of them were Elvis fans. As far back as I can remember, upstairs in one of our bedrooms, an Elvis song was being played."

But why do the fans choose to meet in Chorley? "I did live in Adlington for about ten years and I also lived in Chorley itself," Paul said.

"And trying to find anywhere suitable for everyone to get to is not easy. Chorley is a good place for people to get to."

He continued: "We provide a local link to everything that is going on. As we speak there is a full Elvis week taking place at a holiday camp near Skegness. And the 25th anniversary of Elvis' passing away is in 2002. Ten thousand fans are expected to travel to Memphis for that event. Plus we have links back to the official fan club and the Graceland site."

Paul's admiration for Elvis is clear. "He sang many songs and every type of music possible. And he made 32 films," he points out.

He hopes other Elvis fans will come along and enjoy the club.

The next meeting is at the Inn on the Park on December 6. Visit the website at www.promisedland76.freeserve.co.uk for more details, or phone Paul on 01204 61498.