AN international artist, renowned for making 'concrete cows' in Milton Keynes, is working with pupils of Tor View School in Haslingden.

Liz Leyh made the famous cows almost 23 years ago and has come to East Lancashire to work with the Horse and Bamboo Theatre in Waterfoot.

She is working on creating a special 'puppet booth' with Tor View students, whom she describes as 'fabulous'.

Once finished the booth will be displayed as part of Horse and Bamboo's annual puppet festival Puppetsense.

It will initially be displayed at the Royal Court Theatre in Bacup, before touring local schools as part of a smaller exhibition.

Puppetsense 2002 lasts from May 24 to 26 when there will be free family puppet-making workshops at the theatre in Bacup Road on Saturday and Sunday between 12 noon and 1.30pm.

In the run-up to the event, there have been free street performances in Rawtenstall and Bacup, with Punch and Judy, Via-Samba and Blackpool Grand Youth Theatre performing their latest shows and music.

Puppets have also been made at workshops at Helmshore Textile Museums and some of the work is being exhibited, until the end of May, at venues around Rossendale, including Helmshore Textile Museums, The Royal Court Theatre, Whitworth Library, Rawtenstall Tourist Information Centre and The Horse and Bamboo Theatre

Professional international and national theatre companies are also performing as part of the weekend including French company Access L'air who will perform Aprs La Pluie (after the rain) on May 24 at 7.30pm.

UK-based Freehand Theatre will perform Tales From A Treehouse on May 25 at 3pm; Heer Ranjha by Live Puppets Theatre Company will be staged on May 25 at 7.30pm and finally, on May 26, Lempen Puppet Theatre will perform Last Of the Trolls at 3pm.

Tickets for the shows are £3 adults, £2 children and £8 for a family ticket for two adults, and up to three children.