CELEBRATIONS lasted throughout the weekend in Rossendale to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the borough's twinning with the German town of Bocholt.

Traders on Rawtenstall Market got into the spirit for the occasion and decorated their stalls with German bunting, as well as organising activities for the children.

Children's attractions including Professor Nick Knacks' Punch and Judy show, Jimjo the clown, a Bertie Bassett treasure hunt and performances by the Britannia Coconutters and Stacksteads band.

There were also performances by the Coconutters at Bacup market and in the valley centre, where the youngsters were also kept amused by fairground rides.

The Mayor of Rossendale, Councillor James Eaton, welcomed a civic delegation from Bocholt on Friday evening in the council chambers and presented the Mayor of Bocholt, Klaus Ehling, with a scroll featuring both the Rossendale and Bocholt coats of arms inscribed in gold leaf.

During the events in Rawtenstall on Saturday the Mayor of Bocholt presented a six-feet tall sculpture representing two pieces of a jigsaw joining the two area to the town.

Joan Whiteley, traders' representative on Rawtenstall Market, said: "The sculpture is very nice and I was quite impressed by it. The mayor of Bocholt had a walk round the market which was nice and it was a really good day.

"I still can't believe we have been twinned to Bocholt for fifty years. I vaguely remember it but would not have said it had been so long." Other events during the weekend included a concert by Rossendale Scout band on Saturday night at the Astoria ballroom in Rawtenstall and Songs of Praise at Bacup Leisure Hall.

The first group of young people from Bocholt to Rossendale was in May 1952 and the group of Rossendale teenagers made the return visit the following year.

Links between the two areas were formalised in 1958 when a civic delegation visited Germany and in 1983 the Friends of Bocholt group was formed.

The German party of 250 people will leave for home tomorrow.