RED roses will be given out to ladies in Blackburn and Darwen on St George's Day, April 23, to celebrate English Heritage.

The event, which will see 1,500 roses handed out, will kick off with a procession of costumed characters from the King James I period.

The procession will leave the Thwaites' Theatre, Blackburn, at noon and arrive at the Clock Tower in the town centre. A similar procession will take place near Darwen Bus Station.

John Williams, chairman of the St George's Day promotion committee, said: "We are giving roses to the ladies because this is what St George's Day is all about, honouring the ladies. It is the chivalry that epitomises the tradition of the day."

In the evening a meal of roast beef will be served in Darwen with Darwen Drama Club re-enacting the knighting of the Sirloin beef in Hoghton Tower during the reign of King James I.

The evening will also feature the Last Night of the Proms.

The performance will close with a special tribute to Darwen's youngest soldier Jack Banks, who was killed serving for his country during the D-Day landings in Normandy 60 years ago.