THE red rose county was celebrated around the world as more than 74million people took part in Lancashire Day, it has been revealed.

The campaign, launched by Marketing Lancashire, invited everyone to share photos, facts and messages on social media about why the county meant something special to them.

The event commemorates the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first elected representatives to Parliament, in response to a call from King Edward I to join what later became known as 'The Model Parliament'.

People donned their flat caps and celebrated across 1,098 locations which included people from Ottowa in Canada, Wellington in New Zealand, Europe, the USA, Africa and the Far East.

The campaign surpassed last year's reach of 60million people.

Conversations around the world started in the early hours of the morning when proud Lancastrian Simon Gisbon, a retired building service engineer, now residing in the Philippiens, who shared a photograph of the county's flag outside his home.

Several messages were sent out by cricket legend Andrew Flintoff, biker Carl Fogarty, comedians Johnny Vegas and Jack Whitehall, West End performer Jodie Prenger and actor Craig Parkinson.

Ruth Connor, chief executive at Marketing Lancashire said: "We are delighted that so many people engaged with Lancashire Day from public figures and organisations, to the business community and ex-pats all over the world.

"The people of Lancashire are generous, warm and hospitable and this was there for all to see on Lancashire Day.

"There's a strong and emotional connection through our culture, our heritage and our daily life that binds us together and every year on Lancashire Day it is evident how proud we are of this wonderful county."

The day was celebrated across the county in a variety of ways, including the Blackburn Bus Company bringing their bus butlers onboard their services to serve a free breakfast for their customers.

In Hyndburn, The Town Crier, Rawden Kerr, read the Lancashire Day Proclamation outside Churchfield House in Great Harwood.

Lancashire poet John Cumming held an event of prose and poetry in Colne Library.