A LANCASHIRE landmark is hosting some of the world's most influential politicians at the G7 Speakers' Conference this weekend.

A giant security operation is operating in and around Astley Hall, Chorley, as the globe's political elite arrive in the Red Rose County.

The G7 Speakers' Conference is an annual meeting which brings together counterparts of The Speaker of The House of Commons - a role currently held by Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

And Astley Hall proved the perfect backdrop for politicians from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the USA and European Parliament to meet for face-to-face for the first time since before the coronavirus pandemic.

Among those in attendance is Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

The theme of the conference was Secure versus Open Parliaments, where one of the topics up for discussion was how to protect Parliaments from terrorism.

Speaking before the event, Sir Lindsay said: “With so many of our parliaments having experience of terrorist attacks and our Members facing threats, abuse and hostility from armchair trolls on social media, now is the time for us to join together to discuss how we can tackle such forces of evil.

“How do we balance public access to Parliaments as well keeping Members and staff safe?

“Amid this climate, how do our communities raise their voices and get them heard nationally and internationally on these and other issues? These are all massively important topics for our countries.

“I look forward to welcoming my counterparts to one of the most beautiful parts of the UK – to the town where I was born and brought up – to Lancashire and the North West.”

It comes after the UK hosted the G7 leaders’ summit in Cornwall over the summer, which saw Boris Johnson welcome US President Joe Biden on his first overseas visit since entering the White House.