AFTER 12 months in the planning, the Queen's trip to East Lancashire was today hailed a "resounding success."

Police said the security operation had run without incident and had achieved a perfect balance of allowing Royal well-wishers to get close to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh while keeping everyone safe.

Phil Watson, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "We are delighted the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spoke to so many people ranging from the very young to the very old the eldest being a former Mayoress of Darwen Gladys Briggs, now 98, who met the Queen in 1954.

"We are particularly pleased so many residents turned out and made it a carnival atmosphere.

"I would like to thank all the council staff, police, Cafe Beee's and the Mall, the Blackburn with Darwen band, and many others who worked hard to make this such a memorable day."

Council leader Coun Kate Hollern added: "I would like to thank everyone for coming and giving the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and warm welcome. They would have left with a good impression of Blackburn."

Supt Warren Turner, operations manager for Eastern Division, said: "The visit was a success. Our plan worked very well with disruption kept to a minimum.

"I would also like to thank the public and local businesses who were inconvenienced in any way for being so patient and playing their part in making the visit the great success it was."

Ribble Valley Mayor, Coun David Morris, said: "We have all had a superb day and the Queen was definitely impressed with the Ribble Valley.

"She said she was delighted with the character and the environment of the Ribble Valley and both Her Majesty and the Duke said how nice it was to visit somewhere so different from London."