THE Queen last visited Burnley on November 12, 1987, when Her Majesty visited the £2million Mechanics Centre complex.

On her visit she was given a trumpeted fanfare by the band of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment and sampled a special Royal ale, prepared by Burnley brewery, Moorhouses.

In May 1968, the Queen visited East Lancashire as part of her north west Operation Springclean tour.

Her Majesty stepped from the Royal carriage on to the red carpet at Darwen Railway Station, met by large crowds of people.

During the 17-mile tour, ending in Burnley, the Queen visited Walpumur Paint Company, Blackburn town centre and the Dunkenhalgh Hotel.

And in April 1955, the Queen and the Duke paid an hour's visit to the giant Mullard electronics factory in Blackburn after being greeted at the Town Hall.