ENTERTAINERS, music and fairground rides transformed Accrington town centre into a giant street party to herald the start of Hyndburn's Millennium Timeline.

The family fun day was organised by Hyndburn Borough Council yesterday to launch the scheme, which will include a number of events in the next 12 months.

Millennium Timeline, which received a £30,000 Millennium Festival Fund grant from the National Lottery Millennium Commission, forms part of the national Millennium Festival.

Leisure bosses have been handed the cash to mark the occasion with a series of unique events.

A spokesman for Hyndburn Council said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this funding which will go towards celebrating Hyndburn's past, present and future.

"The millennium is a time both for general celebration and reflecting on where we have come from and where we are going as a community, celebrating our traditions, taking pride in our diversity and building optimism for the future."

Hyndburn's Mayor Coun Bernard Dawson and leader of the council Coun Peter Britcliffe welcomed visitors and residents into the town.

Face-painting and clown and puppet shows in Accrington Town Hall all helped attract the crowds, while a giant firework display made sure the event ended with a bang.

Coun Britcliffe said: "It was a wonderful day which brought the magic of the new millennium to Hyndburn. Hundreds of people came along and congratulations must go to all the staff and council officers who made it possible."

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