AN arts project to celebrate an area’s mining history will be marked with plays and a film.

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre launched the scheme in February to focus on finding, and highlighting, the essence of being from Oswaldtwistle.

Volunteers and staff at the centre have interviewed hundreds of residents on what it is like to be a ‘Gobbiner’.

Now the scheme is to culminate in December with a piece of drama, a short film, and an exhibition, with a celebratory red carpet event for all those involved.

The centre has appointed a script writer and film maker, who will use stories based on the area’s past.

The centre is also creating a play with young people, based on local mining stories. To celebrate the mid-point in the project, the centre is holding an invitation-only champagne reception for local historians and participants to see the performance today.