As the nation today marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, we have looked back at her visits to East Lancashire.

We spoke to people who met the Princess of Wales on her visits during the 1980s.

They have recalled their brush with Diana and reflected on how she should be remembered. And all agreed she was a remarkable and caring person who should be recognised for her charity work.

Princess Diana visited the area three times during the 1980s.

She first visited the county in June 1983, when she opened the new Royal Preston Hospital before moving on to the Joseph Arnold and Co Ltd model factory at Wharf Mill in Church.

She arrived in style, landing at the British Aerospace airfield at Samlesbury before going to the hospital to unveil a plaque and chat with staff, before moving on to the Church Street factory in the afternoon.

Huge crowds gathered for her visit to Hyndburn, with thousands of well-wishers lining the streets around the Church Bridge Works of Joseph Arnold, now known as Express Gifts.

The Princess returned to the area three years later with Prince Charles, who came to Burnley to open the Queen Street Mill textile museum on April 23.

The Royal couple arrived at Rosegrove railway station, and while Prince Charles visited Queen Street and Weavers Triangle, Princess Diana went to Blackburn where she visited three schools for disabled children at Blackamoor.

She was greeted by crowds singing the national anthem before headmaster Ian Hall gave her a tour of all three schools, Broadlands, Blackamoor and Dame Evelyn Fox - the last two have since merged to form Newfield Special School.

Pendle folk were delighted to welcome the Princess for her third and final trip to East Lancashire in March 1989 when she visited Nelson, the first member of the Royal Family to do so for 35 years.

She gave a boost to race relations by meeting members of the Asian community at the Help the Aged sponsored resource centre in Victoria Street, and at Ithaad in Cross Street, before having lunch at the town hall.

A noon today, around 500 guests are expected at the thanksgiving service, including more than 30 royals and celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Princes William and Harry are to give readings along with Diana's sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale.

The service will also feature several pieces of music by one of Diana's favourite composers, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Princess Diana died, aged 36 - along with her companion Dodi Al Fayed, 42, and chauffeur Henri Paul - when the Mercedes they were in crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris on August 31, 1997.

Her death brought an unprecedented outpouring of grief from the British public, and even around the world, and she was to become known as the People's Princess.