MAYOR OF PADIHAM, Coun Bob Clark, is one year older now and Padiham's community chest is richer. His birthday bash, held at Padiham Football Club, was attended by so many people - it was standing room only.

A host of local talent entertained the crowd, with Hapton's Ross Whittaker playing the guitar and local chanteuse Leanne Martyn delivering a fantastic age range of songs to further delight the audience.

The Mayor's sons carried on the entertainment, Adrian Clark playing the saxophone and his younger brother Juilian the guitar and banjo.

At the end of the evening the Mayor thanked the entertainers and the audience who had definitely made his birthday one he will never forget.

His next fundraising event, on Saturday October 25, is an Elvis night at Padiham Cricket Club at 8pm.

ANOTHER venue to see standing room only this week was Padiham Medical Centre. The response to the flu jab session was so great that people had filled the waiting room and the vestibule and were standing outside.

This week was the last week of sessions but staff at the centre are planning more in November. Doctors are delighted at the response this year.

A PADIHAM resident has expressed concern at the congestion caused in the Peel Street/Bright Street area by the careless parking of taxis.

PADIHAM councillors met with police representatives to discuss an alcohol-free zone for Padiham. Every resident in any proposed area must be consulted.

Sergeant Andy Carter explained that a working group will look at plans for the ban which, if implemented, could mean that Padiham town centre may become an outdoor alcohol control zone. People who flout the ban could face arrest and fines of up to £500.

RESIDENTS of Carter and Ruskin Avenue, Hapton, turned out in force for a neighbourhood watch meeting held in Hapton School. The meeting was arranged by community beat manager Tony Himycz and crime prevention officer Barbara Hollingworth.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Casterton Avenue neighbourhood scheme who explained that they had started their very successful scheme with fewer people than had turned out for Hapton's meeting.

Their advice was to submit a written report for every incident so. The police can collate reports of incidents and can build up dossiers on individuals. Everyone was pleased with the information they had collected and further meetings are being arranged.

One of the major concerns of the residents of that area of Hapton is the vandalism on the recreation ground, which continues to spoil enjoyment for the young children. Swings are still chained back because the safety surface underneath has been clawed up, thrown around the car park and generally destroyed.

THE residents of Casterton Avenue were impressed by the interest shown by Haptonians. Hapton CE/Methodist School football team beat Padiham County Primary 2-0.

THE Rev John Hardy, minister of Hapton Methodist Church, and Rev Mark Jones, of St Margaret's, are delighted with the response to the harvest festival. More than 90 harvest baskets were distributed in the village.

LOCAL boy Andrew Derbyshire, who is currently starring as Joseph in the West End, returned to Padiham last week to spend his 21st birthday with his mum, dad, brothers and sister.

Andrew, who was a star of the Basics Youth Theatre Company, is currently touring England with the show. Several local schools have arranged trips to see their local star.

Andrew attended Gawthorpe High School and this week the pupils there met Paul Betts, whose teenage daughter Leah died on her 18th birthday after taking just one ecstasy tablet. Paul now tours schools warning the pupils that they, like Leah, are in danger not just of ruining their lives but of dying.