FLORAL pictures adorned every corner of St Mary's Church in Haslingden in stunning celebration of the new millennium.

The event took 18 months to arrange and involved churches of every denomination in Haslingden and Helmshore.

The simple painted white walls and ceilings of the beautiful church were filled with colour with each of the 28 separate arrangements depicting a different Saint.

In addition arrangements were placed on pew ends, the front of the organ loft, window in the stairs and above the door on the entrance to the church.

When the idea of a flower festival was suggested the then parish priest Father James Christie was a strong supporter but sadly he died in October, a month before the church was due to celebrate its 140th anniversary of opening. Jean Kelly, chairman of the flower festival committee said: "We started preparation for the festival under Father Christie's guidance and it has carried on under our new parish priest Father Richard O'Connor who is absolutely thrilled with it.

"No professionals have been involved; it has been all the ladies from the various churches and their friends who have made the displays.

"We have made wonderful friends in each congregation while we have all been meeting and working towards the festival. It hasn't been a chore because we have had such a lot of fun."

Children from St Mary's Primary School were also involved in creating displays in the centre behind the church.