RESIDENTS have been expressing their congratulations after Councillor Granville Lord was elected as Padiham's first Mayor since 1974.

His wife, Councillor Pat Lord, will serve as his Mayoress during the next years, when the couple will be expected to act as ambassadors for the town at functions and civic events.

The new and long-awaited Padiham Town Council meetings will be held on the first Monday of the month, with the next one on June 10. However, before that councillors will convene an extraordinary meeting where, hopefully, arrangements will be made to fill the vacant seats on the council.

LOCAL reading fans should head for Padiham library where a number of books with local connections are currently on sale.

Among them is Padiham Jack by John Knowles, a local man who only realised what he was missing in home town after emigrating to Australia. It costs £1.

Another nostalgic publication is Happy Valley No More by historian Jack Nadin. It follows the story of Hapton Colliery and costs £6. Finally Owd Padiham by local historian Duncan Armstrong. is full of interesting facts and is £3.75.

Call into the library and have a look at the adult learners drop in, arranged with Burnley College, 1.30-4pm.

PADIHAM Pensioners Group are holding their AGM at Padiham Town Hall on Wednesday, May 29, at 3pm. Only members are eligible to attend. They are also planning a trip to Llandudno on June 11. Again members only, cost £7.

HAPTON Parish Council and the environmental group are grateful to Gawthorpe High School, Padiham, for their generous donation of tennis racquets and balls. This will enable the groups to extend the facilities available at Hapton's recreation ground to include not just football and bowling but also tennis. The group made a donation of £20 to Gawthorpe School's sports department.

THE information on Hapton CE/Methodist School's class sizes last week should have read: "There are a few vacancies available for the new year starting in August. For information ring 01282 771657." It had nothing to do with Hapton's luncheon club.