YOUNGSTERS are being invited to pin their hopes and dreams on to a rainbow to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

The rainbow has been unveiled at the town's Marks and Spencer store as part of a national £1million fundraising drive for children's charity I CAN.

The idea is to help encourage youngsters to think about their futures while helping others at the same time.

Pupils from Park Hill School, Burnley, and former Burnley football players Vince Overson and Gerry Harrison were the first to pin their hopes on the rainbow.

They were at the launch of the store's initiative to raise money for the national educational charity for children with speech and language difficulties, I CAN.

The children pinned their deepest thoughts and dreams onto the Rainbow of Hope at Marks & Spencer in Burnley on Thursday afternoon, which will be followed throughout the UK.

The Rainbow of Hope has been launched in all 312 Marks & Spencer stores and children are being invited to contribute their own hopes and dreams for the next 50 years at any store.

For each of the first 50,000 hopes that Marks & Spencer receives, the firm will donate £1 to I CAN in a bid to generate £1 million for the charity.

Jubilee parties and schools participating in a Rainbow Day, will raise more money.

Marks & Spencer Burnley store manager Jo Cresswell said: "We are delighted to be providing support for I CAN and, thanks to the help of the children from Park Hill School, we will be able to make a real difference to the lives of young people with speech and language difficulties.

"We invite every child in Burnley to visit our Rainbow of Hope until June 8 and help us by contributing their dreams for the next 50 years."

To join the campaign, customers can make donations at tills in store or on the Marks & Spencer website at www.marksandspencer.com/rainbowofhope