A CELEBRATION of Pakistan's Independence Day at Rawtenstall's Astoria attracted a crowd of 130 people.

President of the Anglo Pakistan Society Khuda Yar Khan said: "It was a very enjoyable evening attended by the mayors of Burnley and Rossendale."

Syed Asmat Ullah Shah, a religious leader from Pakistan, chaired the evening and presented a cheque for £250 to Rossendale Lions from the society and Saracen Cricket Club, who play at Newhallhey.

Rossendale's Mayor, Councillor David Hancock, presented the Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Rafique Malik, with a plaque to mark his 30 years of service to the community in the North West. The event was also used to launch the Lifeline East Lancashire and Ethnicity Heath Unit project Making Things Equal which aims to deliver drugs education and prevention to Asian communities.

Keith Owen, who spoke at the celebration, said: "This is a great opportunity for Lifeline to deliver a new much-needed service. We recognise the diversity of the South Asian communities in Lancashire and the complexity of the issues, however with the expertise provided by the Ethnicity and Health Unit, we believe we have developed an innovative, adaptable and culturally sensitive model for supporting these communities to deal with drug misuse."