A RECORD turnout made Darwen Lions annual gala a success, with more than 5,000 visitors, despite bad weather.

A procession of vintage cars, bikes, lorries and tractors from Darwen FC's Anchor Ground to the Blacksnape playing fields began the day to the music of the City of York Scout Band, the North's supreme champion marching band.

The newly-formed Th' Owd Fettlers Club had their first meet on the field, with more than 100 vehicles and engines on display in what will be an annual event. The Lancashire Fire Service joined in, displaying a turn-of-the-century fire engine. The King's Division regular army unit, Preston, provided an assault course and the Queen's Lancashire Regiment set up a shooting range for visitors to try.

Professional falconer Roger James, from Abergavenny, Wales, showed his birds of prey in the arena and Darwen Gymnastics Club demonstrated their tumbling skills.

Exhibits included a Royal Army Medical Corps field hospital and a Lancashire Constabulary accident unit but the children's favourites were the police horses, Chiron and Dimitrius.

Organisers hope to have raised more than £10,000 for local charities.

"We are very pleased with the turnout of the people of Darwen on such a miserable day," said Darwen Lions president Roy Watson.

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