THOUSANDS of people came together to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at the Burnley Canal Festival this weekend.

The free family event took place at three locations - Sandygate Square, Burnley Wharf and Finsley Gate Wharf, over Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors were treated to art installations, entertainment from dance collective Folk Dance Remixed, music from Burnley Alliance Silver Band and a Ragtag Circus Show and Workshop.

There was a free waterbus taking people between the three venues while on Sunday visitors helped build a life-size cardboard canal boat.

Katy May, programme manager at Super Slow Way which commissioned the festival, said it was a special event celebrating the heritage and history of the canal on its 200th birthday.

"It has been a fantastic family friendly event. One of the highlights has been having it across three venues so people are using the towpath to get between them.

"It gets people using the canal and seeing how beautiful it is and it is right on their doorstep.

"We have had the towpath decorated with flags and installations and about 20 boats moored up who have come especially for the festival."

The festival was created by Mid Pennine Arts, Deco Publique and was supported by the Canals and Rivers Trust and Burnley Canal Trust.