BANK customers were rewarded for their loyalty with a trip to watch Blackburn Rovers take on Liverpool.

Sixteen customers with long-standing accounts at Barclays, in Darwen Street, were also given a mini-tour of the stadium and enjoyed a three-course meal before the game.

John Thompson, 75, joined Barclays at 16. He said: “When I received the phone call from the branch manager I was absolutely thrilled.

"To be rewarded like this was wonderful as you don’t expect to get anything back for simply having a bank account.”

Damayanti Patel, branch manager, said: “The one aspect I’m most proud of about this branch is the loyalty of both the staff and our customers.

“I’m delighted we were able to thank some of longest-standing customers with a football treat.”