THOUSANDS went carnival crackers in Rossendale as the borough celebrated a host of anniversaries.

The theme was flying the flag and people were asked to celebrate the many milestones in the borough and nationally this year, including the Queen's Jubilee, 50 years of twinning between Rossendale and Bocholt and several churches marking their anniversaries.

In Bacup town centre it was impossible to say how many people visited because from the Royal Court Theatre in Rochdale Road down to Irwell Terrace it was just a sea of heads.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rossendale, Coun Jimmy Eaton and his wife Janet, got out of the Mayoral car at Park Road and joined the walking parade into the centre.

Behind them, "royalty" in the form of a pearly king and queen from London and a rose queen from Radcliffe on a motor trike led the walkers.

It is the third year the parade has been walking only, and this year Peter was delighted to attract more churches and schools groups, including the "uphill canoeists" from Holy Trinity School, Stacksteads and the puppets from Trinity Baptist Church in Bacup.

Crowds lined the streets to wave at the procession and in the town centre more than 45 attractions provided a host of activities and a fun fair proved popular with children and adults.

Town Crier Peter Gill, who has organised the event for three years, said: "I received a couple of calls last night from people who said they had come along and it was brilliant.

"I am glad everyone enjoyed the event and I think it was helped with added attractions like the French market and the classic cars on the Co-op car park and I hope to expand that next year to have a competition.

"I think it was the best event we have had yet!"