LEYLAND'S annual festival may have hit the wall but the town should be ready for a fresh injection of fun!

Organisers of the new Leyland at Leisure 2001 aim to pull in the crowds following the demise of the town's annual June festival.

It is a collaboration of local societies and craft groups who used to demonstrate in the popular Craft Tent on festival day.

Organiser Peter Houghton, of Turpin Green Lane, Leyland, is determined to make the new venture a huge success and promises lots to do for all the family. As the Craft Tent spokesman on the former Leyland Festival committee and chairman of Leyland Historical Society, Peter is no stranger to fun days.

He said: "While the festival is no more, I was not prepared to abandon the best way of highlighting to the general public our crafts, clubs and societies. The festival may be over, but Leyland at Leisure 2001 is here to stay."

Instead of a marquee in the middle of the town's Worden Park on festival day the group are planning to resite the Craft Tent to the centre of Leyland's shopping area.

It will be located at Leyland Methodist Church in Turpin Green Lane on June 1 and open free to the public from 10am to 8pm.

Craft demonstrations will include ceramics, jewellery, leather ware, stone animals and stained glass items. Woodturning and picture frames will also feature on the day and people will get the chance to purchase pressed flowers, cross stitch cards, potpourri, corn dollies, dolls' houses and plants.

Leyland-based societies will also join in the fun with exhibitions from Leyland Historical Society, the Leyland and District Railway Company and the Chorley and Leyland branch of the Family History Society, for those interested in tracing their family tree.

For information log on to www.houghton59.fsnet.co.uk/leylandatleisure1.