THOUSANDS of visit-ors flocked to Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale for a weekend of events during the festival of heritage.

The weather held out for the crowds who went to Towneley Park, Burnley, yesterday to celebrate the last day of the free four-day event taking place across the boroughs.

The festival, run by borough councils, started on Thursday and finished yesterday. It included open days around Burnley Police and Fire Stations, Moor-house's Brewery, Queen Street and Oak Mount Mill and a behind-the-scenes look at Burnley Football Club.

Culmination of the festival was a heritage and woodland event which ran from midday till 4pm and attracted an estimated 4,000-5,000 visitors.

Highlights included a Civil War re-enactment, face painting, heritage and wildlife walks, willow weaving, story telling, traditional music and wood carvings.

Bethany Quinn, nine, from Burnley said: "The day was really fun, I really liked playing the old-fashioned games and getting to dress up in costume."

John Harling from Rosegrove, who went to the park with his family, said: "We go to the park quite a lot but we heard about the festival and thought it would be nice to see the muskets and rifle display in the Civil War re-enactment."

Gillian Metcalfe, 37, from Burnley went to the park with her husband and her two children Conner, 12 and Ben, six.

He said: "We have gone to the heritage events at the park for the last few years.

"It was really nice to see all the natural crafts which the kids could have a go with. It's a nice setting at Towneley to have the event and luckily the weather stayed nice, unlike past years when we have been."

Keith Wilson, the council's woodlands officer, said: "The day was really successful. The last few years suffered from bad weather but thankfully the weather held out this time.

"The aim of the day is for families to have fun while learning about the import-ance of local woodlands."