A CAMPAIGN has launched to create a community heritage museum for the people of Hyndburn.

Members of Accrington’s Civic Trust as well as Hyndburn councillors Wendy Dwyer, Bernard Dawson and Mayor Colette McCormack, have agreed to set up a focus group with the aim of boosting awareness of the area’s history.

Coun McCormack, president of the group, said: “We only have one museum and art gallery in Hyndburn – the Haworth Art Gallery – and most of that is dedicated to art.

“We have such a big history and heritage in this borough and we need somewhere dedicated to celebrate it.

“We have NORI brick and weavers, and the first Mayor of Hyndburn was John Emmanuel Lightfoot, but people don’t know about it.

“If you went into a school now sometimes they don’t know what their grandparents or great-grandparents did for a living, but it’s not long ago that these people were weaving.

“We want to engage with the older people in our community and record their memories and history while we can.

“We don’t want people to go elsewhere to learn about their history, we want them to come to local museums.”

The group have cited The Stables at Hollins Hill, where the Haworth Art gallery is based, as an ideal place to host exhibits.

Hyndburn Council officers have already agreed to set aside one room of Hollins Hill to display artefacts, but the group feels the larger stables would be more appropriate.

Coun McCormack said: “The important thing is that we ask the people of Hyndburn if they want a museum and if they do, what they want in it.

“I think everybody would be behind this, so then it’s a case of attracting donations and exhibits to put in the museum.”

A public meeting of the focus group will be held on November 28 at the Peel Park Hotel, Turkey Street, Accrington, at 7.30pm.

For details email mike.j.d@live.co.uk or angela@calfour.com