THE MORRIS dancing competition that nearly wasn't took place, thanks to a funeral firm's generosity.

The £300 rent for Darwen Leisure Centre was too much for Darwen Morris Dancers, until the Co-operative Funeral Society chipped in after an appeal.

They covered the cost and offered raffle prizes for children to be taken to a cinema by limousine.

The leisure centre is the only building big enough in Darwen to accommodate the competition, and the organisers were delighted to be given the opportunity to keep it in the town. The group had used the Community Centre on Knott Street for previous years.

The annual competition is for 400 people from all over the north west and hosted by the Darwen group. And on Sunday members enjoyed success by winning prizes.

The senior team finished in third place, while Achillea Posterero won the nine to 11 'Tiny' section age group, and Amber Clough, the 12 to 16 'Junior' section.