A LANCASHIRE-based art gallery has been awarded a £100,000 grant by the Arts Council to help them mark the 400th anniversary of the trials of the Pendle Witches.

Sue and Pete Flowers, who run Green Close Studios, in Melling in the Lune Valley area of North Lancashire, are planning a year-long series of events inspired by the witch trials, including a long-distance walk based on the route the witches took from Pendle to Lancaster.

As well as commissioning Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to write a piece inspired by the events, the couple will also be taking children from schools in Padiham and Slaidburn on a walk up Pendle Hill.

Pete said: “This is the culmination of a lot of previous work.

“We are trying to address social issues, the role of the outsider, how history can be very relevant today.

“Our schools programme is particularly looking at attitudes and outsiders, how easy it is to judge people.”