SHOPPERS were in for a real treat when models took to a catwalk erected in Burnley town centre to promote the latest fashions.

Just 15 minutes before the first show was due to start, it was still pouring with rain but fortunately the weather cleared and remained dry throughout the displays and entertainment provided by the newly opened Liquid.

The display featured new autumn ranges available soon in more than 25 of the town centre's major stores and independent shops.

Three shows were staged near the bandstand in St James Street to show party and club wear, sports and casual and formal and business wear.

Liquid Rock Cafe was the main sponsor of the event and also provided shoppers with a roadshow between catwalk runs featuring fire eaters, dancers and music.

Assistant town centre manager Lisa Durkin said: "It was absolutely fantastic! There were some beautiful outfits and we attracted hundreds of people. At the first and last shows it was heaving."

Burnley College first-year fashion students co-ordinated the event as part of their course work and they provided models from friends, students and family members.

Lisa added: "I am very grateful to everyone for their support and the sponsors Liquid Rock were brilliant providing a troop of dancers, fire eating and break dancing. "I will be ringing round the shops checking with retailers how they think it all went and maybe we will do a similar thing in the future. We had to put on an event because there were things happening in Colne, Blackburn and Clitheroe and we had to show people in Burnley that the town also had things to offer. It was a good fun experience."

The four-day shopping festival continued yesterday with many shops having in-store promotions and a special gala night at The Iron Works Nightclub with proceeds going to Burnley and Pendle Hospice.

Today events were rounded off with an invitation for youngsters to ice skate in the town centre on a specially constructed plastic rink.