PEOPLE across East Lancashire joined in with a celebration of architecture, history and culture at a series of Heritage Open Days held throughout the area.

Burnley police station and Padiham Town Hall were among some of the buildings to open their doors to the public as part of the nationwide scheme.

The open days gave people free access to buildings that are not usually open to them or would normally charge an admission fee.

In Burnley, there was a rare chance to see behind the scenes at the police station in Parker Lane as well as a guided walk round Burnley Cemetery, which dates from 1856.

A tour round some of the hidden parts of Towneley Hall, including priest's holes, the cellars and the attic, was also on the packed agenda.

The programme, funded and supported by English Heritage, also saw people watching blacksmith demonstrations at Rourke's Forge and experiencing the life and times of the cotton weavers' at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum.

More than 50 cars took part in a vintage cavalcade at Helmshore Textile Museum, including a 1911 Model T Ford , a 1987 Chevrolet Corsica and a Clarke Cluley Tourer from 1924.

Tudor games were played at Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham, and people were given the chance to go behind the scenes at the Thompson Centre, Gannow Pool and Padiham Leisure Centre to look at the plant and filtration system. Martin Bacon, chief executive of the Civic Trust, said: "Heritage Open Days offers the public a rare chance to visit some of the best of England's built heritage.

"Many of the attractions are not usually open to the public, so it really is a valuable opportunity for people to get to know something new about the community in which they live.

"Not only have people learned about heritage that is right on their doorstep but it has all been for free, which is even better."