THE second Puppetsense Festival proved a big success with families from Rossendale and beyond.

The weekend festival, directed by Horse and Bamboo Theatre in Waterfoot, was held throughout the Valley and included exhibitions street performers and free workshops at a number of sites, including the Horse and Bamboo Centre.

Highlights included four professional puppet theatre productions at Horse and Bamboo which were all well attended.

The street-parade extravaganza performed by young people of the Blackpool Youth Theatre in the Valley Centre proved a big hit and attracted audiences as young as two years old.

Horse and Bamboo's Artistic Director Bob Frith, said "We are delighted that this festival proved every bit as successful as last years.

"I think that Puppetsense will now become regular feature in our calendar of events. The partnership with Rossendale Council's Arts Officer Elaine Walsh, and Mid-Pennine Arts' Jill Penny and Sharon Allwood, has helped us make this a bigger and even more effective weekend."