STAN Ternent's champagne Clarets are to be honoured with a civic reception after storming into Division One and sparking a weekend of wild celebration.

The town hall red carpet will go down for the Burnley squad to honour their return to Division One soccer, with Mayor Eddie Fisk declaring: "They have done us proud."

Council chiefs were today finalising plans for the event as congratulations poured into Turf Moor.

The Clarets secured promotion with a 2-1 victory at Scunthorpe on the final day of the Division Two season as pre-match promotion favourites Gillingham went down 1-0 at former Burnley star Brian Flynn's Wrexham.

Some famous names, including Prime Minister's press secretary Alistair Campbell, cheered the team on at Glandford Park and fans danced on the pitch at the final whistle.

The promotion party began in Burnley from the minute nearly 7,300 fans, who had watched the big screen relay of the Scunthorpe clash, poured out of Turf Moor in a sea of smiles.

Car horns hooted, fans chanted and the result was cheered in all parts of the centre -- from the market where shoppers listened to the radio broadcast to the local pubs where fans monitored the nail-biting climax to a gripping season. Cars parked up as drivers listened on radio to the closing minutes of the match and the final whistle was the signal for scores of fans to take to their mobile phones to spread the news.

Celebrations continued in pubs and nightspots well into the night -- Burnley's achievement was the talk of the town.

MP Peter Pike declared: "The Clarets have put Burnley on the map."

Fans also put the Clarets' success on the road -- painting the message "Welcome to the Clarets. Division One here we come." in white across the busy Casterton Avenue highway.

Around 200 fans blocked Brunshaw Road and swarmed around the team coach as it arrived home from Scunthorpe.

The coach moved around to Cafe Claret where Mr Ternent appealed to high-spirited supporters to move back to allow the squad off safely -- but to no avail and the coach moved away.

Fans who had watched the big screen relay were near delirious after a match which left the club in the second automatic promotion place behind champions Preston North End -- and saw the end of the club's five-year exile from the top flight of the Nationwide League.

And the message from many was clear -- "We're back -- bring on the Rovers!"

Dean Cotterill, 16, of Rutland Road, said: "It is a dream come true -- marvellous, wonderful."

Mick Kavanagh, 35, of Lanehead added: "I am a Burnley fan through and through and I always felt they would do it -- it's terrific."

Factory foreman Alan Taylor, 44, who went on the match with son Ryan, 13, said: "I have been a fan since I was nine and today matches our other achievements.

"I expected to go up through the play-offs, so today is just brilliant."

Andy Banks, 37, a dry stone waller, declared: "I've followed them everywhere and seen all the ups and downs -- today I'm euphoric."

Turf Moor newsagent Ken Preston, 50, closed up shop to watch the match. He said: "We are just going to celebrate and celebrate. "I expected it today -- I just had that feeling all along it would be ours and Flynny has done a great job for us."

Former police chief inspector Garry Gluyas said: "It was not a good match, but it gave us the result we wanted. Stan Ternent does things his own way and he got it right."

Burnley MP Peter Pike, also on the Turf, said promotion had put Burnley on the map.

"It is a tonic for the town which boosts morale in so many ways -- everyone at the club must be congratulated. It is tremendous news and a marvellous achievement.

Clarets' stalwart Coun Harry Brooks expressed absolute delight with the outcome which had topped a great and emotional afternoon.

But he warned the club would have to strengthen the squad to consolidate its new position in Division One.

He said: "Two months ago no-one would have given us any chance of automatic promotion, but the team have stuck with it to the end -- it has been marvellous.

"And with all the other Lancashire teams in the First Division I am looking forward to a new season with a real Lancashire Hot Pot flavour!"

Police said Saturday night celebrations were high-spirited and good-humoured and there was no trouble in town.

The Mayor said he was going to the town hall today to make arrangements for a civic reception.

"Everyone at the club deserves the town's congratulations," he said.

"They have kept us on the edge of our seats all season and that is what football is all about -- it is brilliant."