A RENOWNED programme celebrating some of the historic outliers of East Lancashire is set to get a punk makeover.

Boff Whalley, one of the founders of Chumbawamba, has united with friends Stephen Hartley and Casey Orr to explore the history of Pendle's punks.

And the results will form part of the ongoing Pendle Radicals initiative, which has celebrated everyone from Quakers founder George Fox to Higham-born horologist Sir Jonas Moore and Nelson suffragette Selina Cooper.

Boff has penned a blog for the programme, outlining how the trio has spent the past few months talking to various people about how punk changed the lives of those living around Pendle and East Lancashire.

An exhibition, Sick of Being Normal, after a Notsensibles song, is now planned in Colne for next February and discussions will be hosted by That 0282 Place in Burnley Central Library.

Boff has recounted how the DIY ethic and fanzines like Revolt In Style took a hold in East Lancs.

He wrote: "I grew up in Burnley, where as 14 and 15 year-olds we had secondary modern schools, growing unemployment and a Second Division football team.

"Older kids at school played prog rock albums and the youth clubs were run by scout leaders and Methodist groups.

"As kids we knew about the hippies and freaks who lived on the old council rubbish tip near Queen's Park – we loved their huge bonfires and mad carnivals and processions.

"They were the inspirational Welfare State International, and when they left the town in 1978 we turned back to our TV sets, where Granada's Tony Wilson gave Sex Pistols their first airing."

He recalls how Welfare State's legacy saw bands forming and rehearsing.

And Mid Pennine Arts, which has led the Pendle Radicals showcase, was on hand to lend encouragement and the use of a photocopier for budding fanzine editors.

Further tips of the hat are paid to Colne Youth Theatre and Rock Against Racism for influencing the outpouring of creativity which abounded.

Boff also notes how Granada TV presenter Bob Greaves came to Pendle to report on the regional scene. He says many of those caught up in punk took the core values of "fierce individualism and social responsibility" into their adults lives.