THE latest additions to the popular Irwell Sculpture Trail will be unveiled in Bacup on Saturday.

And the imaginative themes explored range from alien invasion to butterflies.

There will be a preview of the work of five newly graduated artists involved at Bacup Conservative Club on Wednesday from 7pm to 9pm.

The artists, who were given a bursary to complete their work, have been working in the town centre for the past six months collating ideas and creating their sculptures.

Lorraine Berry's work is called conversations. The Chorley artist said:

"Using donated community photographs I have introduced a number of hidden images into windows around the Town Centre.

"These images will change and appear and disappear when sensors are activated by the presence of the viewer."

Malcolm Halliwell, from Burnley, has called his artwork Making Waves combining the flow of the River Irwell which runs through the town.

He said: "The flow of the river water is the flow of our lives and we pollute it at our peril. Perhaps my sculpture gets the message across in a more acceptable way and encourages civic pride.

"To do this I use reclamation as raw material and mechanics to animate my thought provoking work."

The Visit is the work of Kathryn Darbyshire, from Fleetwood. She said: "I intend to recreate an imaginary event, by asking local children to imagine why the aliens would be visiting Bacup.

"The event will create by making a series of tracks, painted onto the grassed area next to Earnshaw Road.

"The viewer is invited to follow the tracks and draw on their own conclusions."

Rawtenstall born Karin Gage has used modern technology to create How d u send urs? She said: "My work investigates contemporary forms of communication like text messaging, as identified by members of Bacup's community.

"Initial interest regarded language and the developing forms of the written word. Pursuing reflections of lives and locality, the work relates information, directing expectations and familiarity through materials and process."

Artist Stephen Hunt, from Manchester, has created Regenerate. He said: "Butterflies will be released at undisclosed sites. Sites have been selected for suitability and sustainability of species.

"Assessment of sites has been corroborated and approved by local butterfly enthusiasts. Butterflies will be released as each species matures.

"Butterflies will be released in secret."

The opening will coincide with Bacup's Easter festival when the Britannia Coconutters dance through the town.