EARTH, wind, fire, water and even green-eyed aliens swept through Blackburn as the town's all singing, all dancing, millennium Mardi Gras brought the August Bank Holiday to life.

A colourful procession based around the four elements and including everything from stilt-walking musicians to Neptune, Scarlet O'Hara and even the devil himself, transformed the town centre with a carnival atmosphere and hundreds of people took to the streets to watch.

The parade began at 3pm in Jepson's car park in Mayfield Street and snaked through Darwen Street, Church Street, Ainsworth Street and along King William Street before ending in Simmons Street at 4.30pm.

It was a fitting grand finale to the three day Family Mardi Gras 2000 event organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The festival began on Saturday with a street party in the town centre before Salsa Sunday brought Latin rhythms and dance workshops to East Lancashire.

Among the groups taking part in the procession were Blackburn Youth Works, who created a float around the theme Mother Earth in conjunction with the community association and community development teams on the Roman Road estate.

Youth Works' Geraldine Thornley said the youngsters had spent weeks making their costumes.

"There are fairies and butterflies, bees and bugs on the float and they're all having a great time. It has taken us weeks to make but it's been worth it."

Further along the parade were children from community centres and halls across Blackburn and Darwen including Feniscowles, Mill Hill, Audley and Green Lane as well as local groups like Blackburn and District Blind Society, Blackburn's People's Choir, the Action Factory, Nightsafe and Blackburn's Children's Library.

Iqbal Bhai, community development assistant at Audley Community, said: "I think it is absolutely brilliant. The children have enjoyed every minute and they were so excited." Lorraine Bromley from Feniscowles Community Hall, went on: "It was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere. We had a great time."

Coun Ashley Whalley, executive board member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said he was delighted with the success of the summer events programme and especially the Mardi Gras.

"I thought it was absolutely superb and very successful. All the events have brought people into Blackburn and that is what we want -- for people to think Blackburn first rather than go elsewhere.

"This strategy dovetails with our proposals for the town centre redevelopment which will put Blackburn firmly at the heart of this region.

"The programme is something we will be repeating next year, when the festival will be just as good if not better."