EAST Lancashire will fall silent for a day of mourning when Princess Diana's body is laid to rest.

A number of events due to take place on Saturday have already been cancelled or postponed as the nation prepares to join mourners at Westminster Abbey in an act of remembrance. Several more could be called off or postponed later this week.

Tesco, Safeway, Presto, Sainsbury's, Asda, Woolworth's, Marks and Spencer, Top Shop, Debenhams and Principles stores will remain closed until 2pm on Saturday.

And a nationwide two-minute silence at 11am will mean railway stations, radio stations and many other shops, including WH Smith, will fall silent.

Barclays banks are to stay shut and other banks and building societies are also considering remaining closed.

A special memorial service will be held at Blackburn Cathedral at 9.30am on Saturday, to give people the chance to pay their own tribute before returning home to watch television coverage of the funeral.

Local churches have also arranged their own services.

Nationwide Football League officials have called off Saturday's matches, including Burnley's trip to Chesterfield, and told clubs to bring them forward or re-arrange them for next week.

The FA Carling Premiership has no scheduled games because of next week's international matches, although England's World Cup qualifier against Moldova looks set to go ahead.

The NatWest cricket trophy final between Essex and Warwickshire at Lord's has been put back a day to Sunday and Saturday's English rugby and racing programmes are off.

Apollo Cinemas in Blackburn and Burnley will stay closed until around 3pm and all children's morning shows have been cancelled.

English Heritage will close all its historical buildings in the North West.

Distributors have put back the launch of the Bette Midler film That Old Feeling, due to have hit East Lancashire screens on Friday, after concern that it showed a car chase scene.

All trains on the East Lancashire Railway from Bury to Rawtenstall will be cancelled on Saturday.

Most pubs in East Lancashire look set to remain open during the funeral, although Bass houses will close, and Blackburn Licensed Victuallers Association may discuss the situation at its meeting this week.

The "Darren Day" celebrations in Darwen have been postponed along with a monthly raffle draw organised by traders in the town.

A bumper sale at Whalley Methodist Church, planned for 10.30am, is off.

Saturday's ice hockey match between Lancashire Hawks and Fife, at Blackburn Ice Arena, has been cancelled.

A unitary authority learning seminar for Blackburn with Darwen councillors, due to be held on Saturday morning, has been called off.

Accrington Soroptimists International has postponed a fund-raising coffee morning at the town hall on Saturday.

Clitheroe's Cancer Research Campaign shop has brought its planned Saturday launch of autumn and winter stock forward to Friday.

Saturday's Rawtenstall Edgeside and District Gardeners' Society Show at the Astoria, Rawtenstall, has been cancelled. The show will probably be at the Astoria on September 14 and inquiries should be made to secretary Dawn Taylor on 01706 211272.

A minute's silence will be observed before the script writing workshop at Burnley Youth Theatre on Saturday and members of Burnley Boys Club will also observe a silence before their activity week obstacle course.

A concert by Burnley's Silver and Junior Alliance Band will go ahead at Burnley Mechanics when the Deputy Mayor Coun Arthur Park and his wife Eileen will be attending.

On Friday at 7.30pm there will be a memorial service at St Philip's Church, Leeds Road, Nelson. The Rev Stewart Hartley said it would be a simple service to remember the life of Diana and a memorial book will be available for people to sign.

Rossendale's Flag of Honour ceremony which visitors from Germany were due to attend has been cancelled. Councillors are to decide an alternative date.

Many shops are expected to remain open. Blackburn shopping centre manager Eamon Furlong said: "The customers will decide if they want to shop or not but we will be open for normal business. People have to be given the choice."

Accrington Arndale Centre is to be open, but individual businesses may decide to close. A book of condolence will be available for people to sign in Clitheroe Town Hall, from 9am to 12.30am each day, starting today and flowers are being received at the castle gates.

Similar books were started in Blackburn and Burnley yesterday.

Judge Edward Slinger halted proceedings at Burnley Crown Court for a moment's silence.

The judge said everyone would remember with gratitude the Princess's work for charity, her concern for vulnerable individuals and those less fortunate than others. Her great gift of compassion brought new hope and new life to many, he said.

Saturday will still be a happy day for some people however, with dozens of weddings due to go ahead as normal.

The provost of Blackburn, the Very Rev David Frayne, urged couples to consult their local vicar to confirm arrangements, especially if they are due to be married at 11am, the time of the funeral. He added: "There is no problem whatsoever from the Church of England's point of view but it is up to individual people and their guests and if couples are due to get married at 11am they may want to move the time slightly.

"With Princess Diana being the lively spirit that she was. I don't think she would have objected to anyone getting married on the day of her funeral."

Police were called after a man began trampling on floral tributes to Princess Diana and making obscene gestures outside Blackburn Town Hall. The incident, at the flagpole on King William Street, was seen by shoppers and passers-by yesterday lunchtime.

Police Inspector Michael Gledhill said: "We are looking into possible public order offences but nobody has been arrested at this stage."

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