THE damp atmosphere which made the Lancashire cotton industry so successful was very much in evidence at Burnley's King Cotton Carnival.

Heavy drizzle all day failed to prevent thousands of people enjoying the many attractions taking part in the town centre.

Some events were moved indoors to the Mechanics and the Comfort Friendly Inn but everything went ahead.

One of the highlights of the day was the carnival procession through the town centre to the library square for the crowning of King and Queen Cotton, Ward Croasdale of the Cirrus Theatre Company and Heather Dixon of Radio Lancashire.

The procession, led by Burnley MP Peter Pike, featured bands from the Boys' and Girls' Brigades, Sea Cadets, Pendle Jazzmen, French Quarter, Blowjangles, the Junior Alliance Silver Band, Britannia Coconutters, Burnley Youth Theatre, Burnley College fashion and textile students and other local groups, providing a lively, colourful and noisy attraction. Earlier in the day, shoppers in the Market Square got caught up in a re-enactment of the East Lancashire Loom Riots.

The free all-day arts event was organised by the Burnley Tourism and Arts project and sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and Endsleigh Insurance. Nina Anderson, one of the project officers, said: "Everything went off very well indeed.

"Everyone turned out and did their absolute best. There were lots of indoor events and people were able to dodge their way out of the appalling weather.

"I think everyone taking part did us proud.''

Professional and community street theatre, dance and music groups, including Bollywood - on of Europe's finest carnival bands - joined together to make it a memorable day.

The North Star Steel Band played at the bandstand, Burnley College Bands played at the Mechanics, Burnley community choir sang, there was Victorian dancing and much more.

The Burnley-based Fiftysomething Theatre Company performed their latest production Hotpot and a King Cotton craft fair attracted many visitors to the Mechanics. It might have rained on the parade but it did not ruin the carnival.

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