DARWEN’S second Jubilee Tower, this time made of Lego, has now reached the first viewing platform and raised £5,000 for local charities.

The Darwen Rotary Club tower, which aims to raise £25,000 for charity, is being built brick by brick in the Darwen Market annexe replicating the famous landmark on the moors that was built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.

Club secretary Alec Stuttard said he was impressed with the progress made so far.

He said: “We are delighted to have reached this stage in the building progress but there is still a long way to go to reach our target of selling 25,000 bricks. I’m sure there are more organisations out there needing to raise money for some worthwhile project.

“What the town will have at the end is a five-foot memorial of the tower in Lego which we hope will stand in a prominent place in Darwen.”

After raising a fifth of the final target, the rotary club is now inviting applications from local groups for which a grant could now be available.

John Jacklin, of the Rotary Club, said: “It’s a project in which the whole town is getting involved and we are keen to start spending some of the money we have raised."

“Everyone is impressed with our display in the annexe. It looks really well and lots of folk come round regularly to see how it’s growing. People come regularly to check its growth.”

The Rotary Club came up with the idea last autumn in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch.

Rotary members man a stall in the annexe on Fridays and Saturdays where they sell bricks for £1 each and specially commissioned toy Lego models of the tower.

Local schools, clubs, groups and organisations have joined the Lego tower build with 15 per cent of what they raise going to Rotary charities.

The other 85 per cent is kept by the group or charity nominated on the sponsorship form.

Mr Stuttard said: “The model towers have been selling really well. Lots are being sent abroad to ex-Pats. Former Darreners live all over the world but they still have a love of the old place.”

Among the local firms that have been helping are the WEC Group, which built a metal frame around the tower, and Belgrave Carpets, which has covered the dais with artificial grass.

Among recent donors was a contingent from Highfield Cubs whose sponsorship totalled £360 and therefore bought 360 bricks.

Local groups on the lookout for a charity grant from the Rotary Club fund can contact Mr Jacklin at johnjacklin@homecall.co.uk or call 01254 771367.