YOUNGSTERS from across Lancashire brushed up on their card playing skills to challenge Blue Peter presenter Barney Harwood to a game of Top Trumps.

The children’s TV presenter turned up at Helmshore Textile Mill yesterday to a flurry of excitement to launch the new set of cards with a special tournament.

A special set of modern history Top Trumps featuring local attractions like Helmshore Mill Textile Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Bancroft Mill in Barnoldswick, Burnley’s Weavers Triangle and Queen Street Mill, in Briercliffe have been created to encourage children to explore their historical heritage.

Barney said: “I am here to promote learning through play.

"I think this new range of modern history Top Trumps will help bring history to life as well as being a fun game.”

Louise Jacobsson, assistant keeper at Helmshore Museum, said: “I was absolutely thrilled when I heard Helmshore Textile Mills would feature in a new set of Top Trump.

“Never did I dream I would work somewhere that would feature in a game I played as a child.”

Henry Falshaw, nine from Burnley, said: “I love Top Trumps so this is dead exciting being able to play Barney."