THIS image from June 1897 shows work starting on an East Lancashire landmark as part of royal celebrations.

Pictured 1,200ft up on the moors above the town, the mayor of Darwen helps with the groundbreaking for the erection of the town's landmark tower.

People in the area raised £4,000 in order to mark Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, which was used to build Darwen Tower.

Work was eventually completed in 1898 on the landmark, also known as the jubilee tower, and it opened to the public for the first time on September 24 that year.

The tower remains a popular tourist site today, standing at around 85 feet tall and offering picturesque views across Lancashire.

Prior to the groundbreaking, a civic procession had taken place to Holy Trinity Church where, at a thanksgiving service, Darwen's growth from a village to a town of 38,000 people during the queen's reign was recounted.

Afterwards the local rifle volunteers fired a 'feu de joie' salute for the occasion.