THIS year’s Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne has had them dancing in the streets.

Organisers of the four-day festival which ended last night said there had been ‘an amazing atmosphere’ throughout the bank holiday weekend as thousands of music lovers made a beeline for Colne.

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Earlier this year the festival - which celebrates its 27th year - was under threat due to budget cuts. But it has proved to be one of the most popular events yet.

Festival spokesman Sue Madigan said: “The whole town has been buzzing all weekend and it has created such a lovely atmosphere.

“We introduced a number of changes to the festival this year and they have been tremendously well received.”

These changes included moving the British Stage to the Pendle Hippodrome and staging a real ale festival in the Lesser Muni.

“Everyone has just been blown away by the Hippodrome - artists and general public alike. The volunteers there have done a fabulous job,” said Sue.

The British Stage hosted the most emotional night of the festival on Sunday when musicians paid tribute to Cliff Stocker, lead singer with Slack Alice who died earlier this year.

“It was packed,” said Sue, “and it was such a fitting tribute to a lovely guy who played an important role in the festival.”

Over the course of the bank holiday artists including Dave Edmunds, Wilko Johnson and Bernie Marsden have visited Colne.

“There has just been such a great vibe to the town,” said Sue. “The weather has been kind and the streets have been packed.”