FREE transport is being laid on to ensure everyone can find their way to Saturday's Darwen Gala.

Darwen Coach Services is providing a bus from the town centre to the gala field in Borough Road.

Final preparations are being made for what organisers claim will be Darwen's best ever town gala.

More than 30 vehicles ranging from community floats to a Russian missile launcher will make up the colourful road parade, which sets off from Anchor Road at 12.30pm to Borough Road.

There, the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun Tony Humphrys, will conduct the official opening at around 1.30pm.

The line-up includes a fun fair, up to 50 stalls, live music, dance and performing arts displays, paint-ball target practice, a climbing wall, beer tent, children's entertainer Rob Falcon, a caricaturist and a special mystery guest giving out goodies to children.

The afternoon auction features cut-outs of England World Cup 2002 players donated by Sainsburys, a signed Blackburn Rovers book, a Camelot family ticket, family swim tickets, a doll's house and play garage, a leather office chair and much more. Chairman John Sturgess said: "We are confident that this will be our best event ever."