IT may only be in its third year but the Forbes Blacksnape Pre-Season Tournament has quickly established itself as one of the biggest and most prestigious events in the North West.

This year's event attracted 110 junior and senior teams from as far afield as Derby and Leicester -- and proved to be the perfect build up for the season ahead.

And the visiting sides took full advantage of the East Lancashire hospitality and departed with a number of winners trophies.

The competition, which was held over two days, was split into 14 different categories including senior men and women and junior boys and girls.

While the senior competitions were won by local sides, all three of the girls competitions were won by teams from outside the area.

The boys had more success winning four of the seven age groups.

In the boys competition, Akzo Nobel beat Accoutre 1-0 to lift the under nines trophy.

And Accoutre had more heartache in the under 10s final when its 'B' team went down 2-0 against a very impressive Ossy United side.

Colne Clarets beat Clitheroe Wolves 2-0 to win the under 11s event before Morecambe Youth became the first visiting side to lift some silverware when the beat Boundary Park 2-1 in the under 12s final.

In another close final, Foxhall Juniors beat Huncoat 2-1 in the under 13s while a talented Leicester Nirvana side proved to be too good for everyone and clinched the under 14s age group with a 1-0 win against Blue Star.

Dynamo Burscough had the tightest of wins in the boys category when they beat Roach Dynamo on penalties in the under 15s final. There was no silverware for local sides in the girls competition although two Burnley sides reached the finals.

In the under 12s, a talented young Everton side beat Bolton 5-0 before Burnley FC Girls under 14s lost 3-1 against Bury.

And it was double despair for the Clarets when the under 16s lost 4--2 against Seville.

In the youth age group finals Great Harwood beat Rossendale Valley Academy 2-0 in the under 17s final.

And Blackburn Rovers Academy beat Mill Hill St Peters 1-0 to win the under 18s final.

Blackburn Rovers Ladies were arguable the team of the tournament after winning the ladies event for the third year running.

The women came out on top in a strong competition which included wins against the likes of Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers.

In the final, Rovers beat Newsham 1-0.

The men's final was won my Baba Zaman who made the step up from a fine seven-a-side team.

Baba, currently top of East Lancashire Seven-a-Side League Division One, beat Darwen side Anchor on penalties after the match finished 0-0 after full time.

The success was not just down to the number of teams that took part but that hard work put by the council's community leisure and cultural services headed by Graham Harris and supported by Ismail Esat and Iqbal Ebrahim.

Mr Harris said: "The council are proud to be the organisers of now major two day event which is probably the most prestigious football tournament in the North of England.

"The event was a resounding success which was bigger and better than ever before."