Hundreds joined a spectacular procession through Stacksteads parading lanterns they had made to the sounds of Rossendale Drum Majorettes at the weekend.

Ahead of the event, organisers Stacksteads Countryside Park Group were concerned as the River Irwell was very high because of recent rain, but although the ground was boggy, it stayed dry.

The procession was led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rossendale, Councillor Andrew Walmsley and Pat Smith, who had also made their own lanterns.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Caylan Campbell, who is originally from New Hampshire, in the USA, came along with his partner Nastassja Ajssatsan, their baby Naslyn, three months, and her son Elliott, eight, who plays snare drum with the majorettes. They had made lanterns at the workshops.

Caylan said: “We met over Instagram and after a year we realised we had fallen in love and I moved to Rawtenstall a year ago.

“This is the second time we have come to the parade and everyone was so welcoming at the workshops and so nice.”

Lancashire Telegraph: The brightly lit parade walked along Newchurch Road and down to the Riverside Park, and around Stacksteads Recreation Ground, where local resident Elaine Holstead entertained the parade with a Light Poi display.

They then walked alongside the River Irwell guided by marshals and past illuminated installations, before ending in The Glade where snacks were served and Blowjangles jazz band also played.

Grandparents, parents and children packed Toll Bar Mill car park in Stacksteads for the sixth running of the parade.

Daisy Rawlinson, three, was delighted to be able to carry one of the spare lanterns.

Her mum Lauren, from Haslingden, said: “We only found out about the procession a couple of days ago so couldn’t go to a workshop but next year we will. Daisy loves anything that glistens.”

Five-year-old Erin Draper, from Bacup, proudly showed off her lantern, complete with Peppa Pig and her tree house, while her dad Kellen carried a huge lantern in the shape of a gorilla.

Lancashire Telegraph: Dinosaur mad Francesca Holt, eight, and her brother Sebastian, 10, from Stacksteads, made a plesiosaur along with their mum Angela Burns.

Angela said: “It was the first time we had made a lantern. Last year we were still moving boxes into our new home so we were not able to attend. It was absolutely brilliant.

“Francesca wants to be a palaeontologist and Sebastian is amazing at building.”

Nine-year-old Sylvie Rowan, from Todmorden, was delighted to be able to design and build her own mouse lantern and she also added a flying squirrel.

Lancashire Telegraph: Chair of Stacksteads Countryside Park Group Elaine Potts thanked the volunteer marshals who helped the event run smoothly.

Volunteers came from East Lancashire Scouts - Roverway 2024, members of Stacksteads Countryside Park Group, and the Elisha Community Group.

Lancashire Telegraph: She said: “I am delighted with how everything has gone and we have had some fantastic feedback from people who have come along and they have been saying thank you.

"We would like to say thank you to community artists Ruth Evans and Felix who have run amazing workshops.”