COUPLES celebrating their golden wedding anniversaries this year have marked their special day with a service of celebration at Blackburn Cathedral.

The service for couples married in 1947 had been organised to coincide with the golden wedding of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

They were invited to the cathedral by the Queen's representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth.

He said:"As the Queen celebrates her Golden Wedding this year, she will be much in our minds, particularly after the sad events of early September.

"I hope this celebratory service came as some consolation for Lancashire couples who were unable to go to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party."

The service was conducted by the Provost of Blackburn, the Very Rev David Frayne.

He said: "After the national sadness of recent days, it was nice to hold a very happy occasion for all those who are celebrating their Golden Wedding this year."

ZThe Cathedral has launched an appeal to raise money for a stained glass window in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.

It will be part of the lantern tower which is to be rebuilt next year at a cost of £800,000.

The move to incorporate a panel portraying the life and work of the princess follows requests from throughout the area from people who wanted to pay tribute to her.

More than 6,000 people visited to sign the book of condolence and take flowers.

Mr Frayne added: "The special panels will provide a permanent memorial in Lancashire's cathedral church to the Princess's life and work in the community."

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