THE aliens have landed in Bacup and left footprints all over the grass.

The blue, red, white and green footprints scattered over a piece of recreation ground above the town behind Todmorden Road is the creation of Kathryn Darbyshire, 30, who graduated with an Art degree from the University of Central Lancashire at Preston last summer.

Kathryn is one of five new artists to have their work temporarily added to the 30 sculptures of the Irwell Sculpture Trail -- formally launched in 2000.

The temporary exhibition, including origami and a display of text messages has been organised by the Bacup Consortium -- a group, which aims to raise the profile of Bacup.

Consortium secretary Stuart Hammond said: "We've put together a programme of events around the Britannia Coconutters. We are building on their activities."

He said the idea was that tourists in town to see the dancers, who dance in Bacup every Easter Saturday, would stay around a bit longer to look at other attractions the Consortium had organised including a craft fair.

The trail of alien footprints was also there.

Artist Kathryn, who lives in Fleetwood, explained:

"Because a lot of UFO sightings have been reported round here I thought it would be fun to do something on that.

"I did a workshop with 37 children at Holy Trinity School at Stacksteads who drew pictures and made up stories about aliens."

The original sculpture trail stretches from Salford to Bury to Rawtenstall to Bacup and includes a giant totem pole near Rawtenstall, a group of giant nails at Radcliffe and huge pitcher at Ramsbottom.