AREN'T aerial views of towns fascinating? Viewed from above, places suddenly seem alien and it takes a moment to gauge exactly where you are.

In this image from our archives, local folk will recognise the centre of Darwen easily enough, but when was it taken? That's a bit trickier.

If you take a close look, the Darwen Spitfire, a stainless steel monument to the fighter plane that Darwen folk paid for in the early years of the Second World War, isn't in position on The Green. It cost the WEC Group more than £175,000 six years ago.

At the top of the photo, the Central Con, which became Frankie's Bar, is still in position and that was flattened after a fire several years ago. The outside market to the centre left was flattened only a few months ago.

Other landmarks still in place are the market mall and municipal buildings to the left and the Millstone catching the sun, top centre.

In the middle of the photo you can make out The Circus, Market Street and Croft Street. The Provident Buildings are right at the bottom towards the right. Now, who can put a date on this?