EAST Lancashire will be playing host to a variety of events this weekend designed to keep the whole family entertained.

A number of heritage open days will take place, alongside the annual crossroads mission event, and a selection of family fun days.

One of the highlights is set to be the annual World Black Pudding Throwing Championships in Ramsbottom.

Organiser Phil Taylor said: “It is a good laugh and I have seen people of all ages getting involved.

"We have had children under the age of one who can barely stand up and a man over 90.

“It is a good traditional event and the idea is that it is like an old village fete. It is a fun day for all of the family.”

The event starts outside The Oaks pub in Bridge Street at 11am on Sunday.

Participants have three attempts to knock down as many of the 12 Yorkshire puddings as possible.

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A homecoming parade in honour of Colne Olympic hero Steven Burke will be taking place at 11.30am on Saturday, leaving from the bottom of Albert Road in Colne before reaching the town hall at 12.30pm.

Blackburn Spice festival will be also be taking place on Saturday at Blackburn Market, which will give spicy food lovers a chance to enjoy an array of tastes smells and colours between 11am and 5pm across more than 15 stalls.

Continuing this weekend across the region are the Heritage Open Day events with dozens of historic buildings open to the public.

These include in Blackburn the Quaker Meeting House in Paradise Lane and The Bureau Centre, which will both be open on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

A variety of events will also be taking place as part of the 'Crossroads mission' religious festival, with a highlight being the free Family Fun Day at Lower Darwen Primary School on Milking Lane School taking place on Saturday from 11am to 2pm.

On Sunday Blackburn Outdoor Airgun Club will be hosting its annual charity shoot in aid of Theo Power's Neuroblastoma Treatment fund.

Events coordinator Alan Carroll said: "Shooting on the whole gets a lot of bad press.

"We like to help local charities with our fundraisers. We saw about the Theo Power cause and looked up about it and it is a wonderful and worthwhile cause."

Also on Sunday Pendle Leisure centre will be hosting an inter-sports day in memory of former employee Ian Britton. Everyone is invited to come down to the event which starts at 10am.

Blackburn-based music school, McNally Music Tuition, based at Sudell Cross, will also be celebrating its first anniversary with a night of live music tomorrow at Liz and Lil’s on Northgate.

Phil McNally said: “Since we opened, students of all ages and musical abilities, from complete beginners to professional musicians, have come through our doors.

“We wanted to mark the first anniversary and to say thank you to all our students by staging something special.”

It will feature live performances from Friends Of Our Youth, Roosevelt Room, Chris Hinnigan and Teri Birtwistle.

Doors open at 7pm and admission is £3.

Finally Sunday will also feature an all day family fun day the Wallace Hartley pub on Church Street in Colne in an attempt to raise money for Derian House Children's hospice.