BLACKBURN folk with a passion for the place came to the town centre to explain why they love Blackburn.

Hilda Pickering, Geoff Dagger and Rebecca Knowles were winners in the "I love Blackburn because....." competition organised by Blackburn town centre marketing initiative.

It was part of the I Love Blackburn Campaign, run to attract more shoppers to Blackburn.

The competition was launched in the Citizen newspaper at Easter.

Hilda, who was born in Blackburn and won a gold bracelet worth £100, said: "I love Blackburn because of the bygone days and the proud new Blackburn emerging."

Geoff from Roe Lee won tickets to see Rovers said he loved Blackburn because "from peaceful moorland to Ewood's roar, Blackburn's the town that offers more."

And Rebecca Knowles, 15, said: "I love Blackburn because it's where I grew up and has many new opportunities for me" and also won tickets to a Blackburn Rovers game.