IF the wonky wheel, wobbly bridge and deserted Dome in London symbolise the great British talent for organisational foul-ups, perhaps, in future, the devisers of our great national events and attractions should be sent to East Lancashire -- to learn not only how to do it right, but how to do it well.

For look at booming Blackburn and chock-a-block Colne this Bank Holiday -- pulling in crowds of people with first-rate attractions that the showers cannot dampen.

At Colne, the town's famed Rhythm and Blues Festival goes from strength to strength becoming a truly international event -- for both visitors and performers. How many other towns of Colne's size could claim credit for such success?

And see the teeming streets in Blackburn today as the three-day Family 2000 Mardi Gras carnival reaches its climax after a weekend when the fun and entertainment has already lured thousands of shoppers and fun-seekers to a town that might otherwise be suffering from rival holiday attractions.

The carnival organisers are owed praise not just for staging a super event -- culminating today in the biggest procession Blackburn has ever seen -- but for their efforts producing yet another hit in the string of successes that have marked Blackburn with Darwen's millennium celebrations.

The packed-out Mardi Gras comes, after all, in the wake of the hugely-successful Arts in the Park extravaganza in Blackburn last month, hot on the heels of the tremendous Civil War "battle" re-enacted in Witton Park by Sealed Knot enthusiasts and after the much-praised music festival at Darwen that has fans calling for it to become an annual event.

Yes, if you want the blues blown out of a damp Bank Holiday or frolics put into any time of year, come to East Lancashire whenever we are holding a party -- as you'll find our fun is hard to better.

And to the organisers we say thanks and well done!