VISITORS to Burnley are being greeted by two super-sized banners as part of a new campaign.

Influential leaders in the town from the worlds of business, education and sport yesterday came together to unveil the huge images which have been draped over the run-down Derby Arms pub in Padiham Road.

Among those involved in the move, which is designed to give Burnley a more positive spin, are Clarets chairman Barry Kilby, Burnley Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow and Martin Brown, the man in charge of the town's new £80million higher education campus.

And the decoration of the derelict Derby, bought by council bosses for £290,000 earlier this year, was also backed by residents nearby.

Yesterday, motorists driving past the pub on the M65 junction 10 roundabout were met with towering pictures of Turf Moor and text stating: “New schools, new university, new league.”

George Platt, 53, runs the Soft Priced Hardware Computer Store yards away from the pub.

He said: “I think it is quite a good idea and it's a good plug for Burnley.

“It attracts the attention, although it doesn't say much about the town.

“Having said that, it is a lot better than the eyesore it is covering up.” John Parker, 47, who lives in nearby St John's Road, said: “It is sound, a lot better than that ugly pub and I will be able to see it from my house too.

“Now they just need to do it down Trafalgar Street where that burnt-out old mill is.”

Bosses have already said they plan to target Burnley's historic Weavers' Triangle area, including Trafalgar Street, next.

The branding blitz is the brainchild of an 11-person panel made up of the town's most influential people brought together to promote Burnley.

Mr Kilby said: “It’s no coincidence to me that as the club reaches the top flight the town is really moving forward too.

“This banner is of the scale and size to match our ambitions, both as a football club and as a town, and I think it will send a really positive message both to those that live here and to those that are coming to Turf Moor.”

Andrew White, managing director of Burnley aerospace giant Aircelle, said: “Burnley is now a major player in the aerospace industry, not just in this country but across northern Europe.

“It’s time we all started to talk the town up, just like this wrap does.”

As part of the campaign, a new website, www.burnley. co.uk, has also been set up.