PADIHAM Sports Week opened in glorious weather which encouraged vast crowds into the town.

Saturday morning saw bustling activity from 5.30am as stallholders set out their wares for the town's annual Charity Market.

Many charities were represented and plenty of money raised for local charities.

The Mayor of Padiham, Coun Mark Jinkinson, attended the market resplendent in breeches, white stockings, brocade waistcoat, red velvet jacket and fur-trimmed tricorn hat.

Mayoress, Mrs Denise Wilkinson, ran the Mayoress Charity stall.

Later the Mayor ran the mile fun fun -- still in his robes and wearing his hat.

Among the many people who joined in the mayor was a former Mayor of Burnley, Coun Gordon Birtwistle, who sportingly offered to run with the Mayor of Padiham.

The pair were cheered all the way round the course and, very warm, finished in style.

The raft race organised by the Mayor to take place at Padiham on Sunday had to be cancelled as only one raft turned up.

But that wasn't a problem as it meant the mayor had more time to spend at the duck race held on Kwik-Save car park.

In addition to the race there were circus skills to be learned, tombola and good stalls to visit, face painting and the most exciting display of all was a motorbike stall with three powerful bikes -- two Harley Davidsons and a Suzuki.

To the cheers of the crowds the ducks were released and people ran the length of the river to keep pace with them.

Among the crowd was paramedic Andrew Duncan with the defibrillator sponsored by Padiham Council. Luckily Andrew had no customers all afternoon.

The entertainments and events were announced in the afternoon by Clitheroe's Town Crier Ronald Haywood, who lent his support to the town.

The weather could not have been better or the enjoyment more visible. A splendid start to the week!

A NEW town councillor has been co-opted onto Padiham Town Council. He is Alan Ravenscroft, who fills the last empty vacancy on the Council.

VILLAGERS are complaining that selfish car owners who park on the pavements are making it difficult for wheelchair users and pram-pushers to move around the area.

One of the village's wheelchair users is also visually impaired and finds it difficult to negotiate the pavement drops when the way forward is barred. Community beat manager PC Derek Mitchell and CSPO Debbie Hartley will be asked for their help.