BURNLEY Football Club is the latest signing to the annual free four-day festival of heritage taking place across the borough from next Thursday.

The opportunity to go behind the scenes on the 125th anniversary of the club is just one of thirty free activities taking place.

Moorhouse Brewery, Historic Hurstwood, Burnley Police and Fire Stations, Padiham Exhibitions, Queen Street and Oak Mount Mill, Gawthorpe Hall, and Rourkes Forge are just some of the places opening their doors, culminating in the Towneley Heritage and Woodland Festival on Sunday, September 9.

Alongside the behind-the-scenes look at Burnley Football Club, other new editions to this year's Open Days include 100 years of the Red Cross at Lady Towneley House, green woodwork and open-air baking.

People can also learn about the art of bee keeping at Offshoots Permeaculture Centre and visit the Burnley Lane Baptist Church that dates back to 1770 to see the baptistry.

St Mary, St Catherine's and St Peter's Church also provide hundreds of years of history, the opportunity to hear bell ringers at work and much more.

There will be a series of walks - from the Three Parks Walk, Padiham Town Trail and Burnley Cemetery to Weavers' Triangle Towpath, Public Arts Trail and the Towneley Heritage Trail.

Councillor Roger Frost, responsible for leisure and culture at Burnley Council, said: "What once created employment now creates interest and excitement; what once housed industry now houses wonder and spectacle; what once moved material between Liverpool and Leeds, now stands silent and with its beauty, simply moves people.

"There is so much heritage right here in Burnley and hopefully I will join thousands of people to make this year's Heritage Open Days the best yet."

Heritage Open Days are co-ordinated nationally by the Civic Trust, in partnership with English Heritage. Locally, they are organised by Burnley Council's Tourism Team with support from all the agencies involved.

For further information on the 30 events that make up this year's Heritage Open Days pick up a leaflet at Burnley Tourist Information Centre, libraries and other public buildings, visit www.visitburnley.com or call Burnley Tourist Information Centre on 01282 664 421.