CAMPAIGNERS fighting for home rule for Padiham say local people overwhelmingly support the move.

Independent councillor Granville Lord is continuing to collect signatures this week on a petition calling for the town to have its own council.

"We have to have our own say in the way Padiham is run and the power to do what's best for the town and its people," he said.

"I'm demanding that Padiham is given back to its people."

Coun Lord and his wife Patricia were joined by fellow campaigners Philip and Margaret Denson in Padiham centre on Saturday collecting sheets of signatures from local people who support their campaign.

People took sheets away to collect signatures from friends and family and others will be available to sign in town centre shops this week.

Once the petition is collected it will be sent to the Association of Lancashire Parish and Town Councils and then passed on to Burnley Council.

"We've had an overwhelming response," said Coun Lord. "I'm really proud of Padiham people, that they are standing up to be counted like this.

"We need around 2,000 signatures to push this through and I'm confident we'll get them.

"In 1994 there was a referendum on this issue and people were overwhelmingly in favour. Six years on, Burnley Council is not doing anything, for political reasons."

Protest power has already paid off in Padiham with the news that it is getting extra bobbies on the beat, security cameras and an extra £150,000 for improvements.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.