ROSSENDALE'S Festival of Remembrance will return on Sunday.

The event was a tradition in the Valley on Remembrance Sunday, but last year it was axed.

Now council bosses have re-instated the event, which will be staged at Bacup Leisure Hall at 7pm.

Rossendale Mayor Coun Peter Steen said: "The festival used to be held in Haslingden's public hall, and when it closed it moved to Bacup Leisure Hall.

"When the Rossendale Leisure Trust was formed last year, nobody told them that they were now responsible for organising the festival so it didn't happen.

"When I took over as mayor one of my priorities was to get it re-instated."

Among the invited guests at the event are the High Sheriff of Lancashire, Rossendale MP Janet Anderson and Lancashire County Council leader Hazel Harding.

Coun Steen added: "A short service will be lead by the Rev Garry Whittaker, and there will be cadet standard bearers, plus music from the Healey Whitworth Band.

"It's an enjoyable evening to high- light the importance of remem-brance, and all are welcome."

Entry is free but donations will be taken for the Poppy Appeal.

The festival will follow a series of Remembrance parades throughout the Valley.

In Haslingden, the mayor and mayoress and council leaders will join a procession from the British Legion Club in Deardengate, at 10am, to lay a wreath at the War Memorial at 10.15am. A service will be held at St. James' Church at 11 am.

In Helmshore there will be a procession from Bridgend Car Park at 9am, for a service at St Thomas' Musbury church at 9.30am, followed by the laying of a wreath at the memorial gardens at 11am.

In Whitworth a parade will leave the old council offices to the cenotaph at 10.20am, followed by refreshments at the new civic hall.

A procession will leave shopping precinct in Rawtenstall at 2.40pm, to lay a wreath at the cenotaph next to St Mary's Church.

In Bacup, a parade will set off from the Conservative Club at 2.30pm, followed by the laying of wreath at the Burnley Road cenotaph.

And a parade in Ramsbottom will leave the Royal British Legion on Central Street 10.40am to reach the cenotaph by 10.55am for a ceremony at 11am.