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We love it on Lovat Road
With its cobbled pavements and terraced homes, Lovat Road in Preston looks like a fairly average northern street.
But the people living there 20 years ago – some of whom still call it their home today – were the stars of one of the first reality television series.
Before Big Brother or I'm a Celebrity was even a seed of an idea, the residents of this Deepdale street were stars of the small screen on a BBC series known simply as Lovat Road.
Today, two decades on, the current residents are getting their 15 minutes of fame after the camera crews returned to see how life has changed.
The Lovat Road series was recapped on North West Tonight on Tuesday, before the class of 2009 stepped into the spotlight last night. They are also due to appear again tonight.
Dawn Sutton was 17 and had just moved into Lovat Road with her parents when the series aired in 1989.
She later moved away but returned to care for her mother, Tina, 74, and said: "It's changed so much because there was a shop on every corner and there was a proper community spirit.
"It was funny seeing it (on television) because you can't remember it being like that."
Shop owner Jan Azma has noticed the road and surrounding streets change from a busy shopping area boasting a greengrocer, butcher, launderette and sweet shop to mostly housing with a mix of families and students.
Jan, who let the film crew shoot in her convenience store known as Jan's, said: "I'm the only shopkeeper here from the last time. I wasn't in it but I said they could film in the shop for the first programme. They spoke to the staff here."
Hairdressers and life-long friends Rebecca Armstrong, 32, and Tina Flanigan, 28, are probably the newest residents of Lovat Road, having opened their salon, Inspirations Hair Design, less that a fortnight ago.
Mother-of-three Rebecca said: "It's a bit like Coronation Street – they all stick together and everybody knows each other."
Care assistant Tracy Williams, 34, who lives with partner Paul Slater, 44, has called Lovat Road her home for 15 years.
She said: "All the shops have gone and everything's been changed to bedsits but it's nice and quiet compared to a lot of areas."
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
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Wind direction: South east
