A HUGE crowd watched Padiham's first ever magical lantern procession as it left the entrance to Gawthorpe Hall for the walk to Memorial Park.

Led by the Mayor of Padiham, Bob Clark, and the Mayoress, Mrs Hazel Rushton and accompanied by Colne samba band Via Samba, the procession, growing larger by the yard, wound up the hill to the park to watch a spectacular firework display.

The event was truly a community affair with schools, groups and individuals all combining to make the whole affair stunning.

Paula Smith, project manager for the Padiham Life group was justifiably proud of the success of the evening. The group provided most of the stewards, who had very little work to do because the crowd were so well behaved.

Police stopped traffic on one side of the road so the procession was safe to walk to the park. Even the weather was kind.

HAPTON parish councillors objected to a request for their clerk, Jo Garrigan to carry out a survey of all the HGVs that use Manchester Road between 11pm and 6am.

The clerk was asked to inform the Road Safety Group that their officers should be prepared to do surveys of this type.

Arrangements for Remembrance Sunday worship will be finalised at the October meeting of the parish council. The procession will meet at 10.40am on November 9 and will march to St Margaret's for the Remembrance service.

The council is looking for a bugler to play the Last Post at the cenotaph. Long-term player Elizabeth Duckworth is away at university.

There have been complaints that traffic signs on the A679 are being obstructed by trees and hedges.

BURNLEY MP Peter Pike paid a visit to Hapton CE/Methodist School which lasted all morning. Headteacher Sue Cornell said that far from being in awe of him, the children held in-depth conversations with him and proudly showed him all the new interior of the school which has been refurbished in the last six months.

Mr Pike enjoyed his visit so much he has promised to go back again.

ST LEONARD'S Church, Padiham, is hosting a harvest supper tomorrow night at 7.30pm.

AT Padiham Green School all the children in the reception class had their names entered into the infant good book -- for surviving their first full week.

THE National Trust are holding a book fair on Sunday October 26 from noon to pm. They would be very grateful for donations. Ring 770353 to offer your books.