THE Mayoress of Burnley, Mrs Kathleen Birtwistle, is to host a spring fair at Padiham Town Hall on Saturday, from 10am to 2pm.

Event organiser Carol Stintson hopes to attract a large crowd of people to spend money which will go to the Mayor's Charity Appeal.

OPPOSING views were on show outside the town hall over the past two weeks. A group of people campaigning against the war in Iraq were joined by Second World War veterans, who were showing support for the British troops in the Gulf.

ON Sunday a concert given by local group 'Nine Below Zero' will be held in Padiham Town Hall -- one of the first concerts to be held as part of the Burnley Blues Festival.

LORD Shuttleworth, patron of the St Leonard's Bell Restoration and Tower Appeal, explains -- in a leaflet circulating in Padiham -- that he has a particular interest in the restoration appeal as his great-great-grandmother Janet donated the fourth bell on the peal. The full cost of the restoration will be £40,000 and, as well as holding fund-raising events, the committee is also applying for grants from various charitable bodies.

THE Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Reverend Alan Chesters, held a confirmation service for parishioners from St Leonard's, St Margaret's at Hapton and Saint Anne and Elizabeth at Padiham Green.

THE Parish Council and the environment committee of Hapton have been given a boost this week in their efforts to keep the bowling green open. Two bowls coaches, Alan Dewhurst and Eddie Fyldes, who have volunteered to teach bowlers at Hapton.