A PROJECT looking at the history of the LGBT movement in Burnley has won £50,000 of Lottery funding.

Organisers of the project said it would enable Burnley’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) group to study the community’s ‘hidden history’ at Lancashire Archives.

The project will be held in the run up to Burnley’s first ever ‘pride’ event, which is set to be held in the town later this year.

They will be able to collect the life stories of local men and women who were involved in the early history of the LGBT community to work with Mid Pennine Arts and create an art project looking at the movement.

Kathryn Rooke, of the Lancashire LGBT Centre. said: "We are thrilled to have received Heritage Lottery Support for this exciting project.

“It gives us a fantastic opportunity to work with local people to gather and celebrate Lancashire's rich and diverse heritage.”

Heritage professionals at Lancashire Archives in Preston will help the group to gain a deeper insight into this previously under-researched part of Lancashire's history, as well as teaching valuable communication skills to Burnley Community Group members for use in their wider lives.

A group of LGBT volunteers came up with the idea of a pride event in the town last year. Fundraisers were held late last year and the first pride event is set to be held early this summer.