The National Festival of Making delivered a host of activities, displays and celebrations as it returned to East Lancashire after a two-year hiatus.

At around 11am on Saturday, June 11, the free to access festival took over Blackburn town centre in a unique celebration of making, from the kitchen table to the factory floor.

Events focussed on celebrating creativity popped up across the centre, inside Blackburn Museum and Blackburn Library, The Mall and outside Cathedral Square.

There was also an array of live dance and music, food stalls and much more.

A particular highlight was Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant’s Sustainable Bingo and Taste Lancashire’s Food Producers’ Market, alongside international exhibits, newly commissioned artworks and improvised live music.

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader, Councillor Phil Riley, was happy to see the return of the popular event after the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: "It's great to have The National Festival of Making back in Blackburn.

"As a council, we are really keen to promote the creative arts and this festival is the biggest event in the calendar.

"There was a great variety of activities and, as usual, it attracted people from all over the North of England."

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, who was instrumental in the festival's organisation and looks after Growth and Development at Blackburn with Darwen Council, added: "It was amazing to have the festival back after a pause over the last two years due to Covid.

"Blackburn with Darwen has a rich history in manufacturing and it's great to showcase all the fantastic things that are being done in our towns.

"We were blessed with some decent weather and the turn out has been fantastic.

"We have had thousands of visitors into the town centre over the weekend and this will really help the businesses.

"There was a real buzz in the town centre over the weekend, people were able to relax see all the amazing things on show and enjoy the arts and culture exhibitions.

"I would like to thank all The National Festival of Making team and their partners for making this another successful event and I look forward to seeing them again next year."

Hannah Leighton-Boyce, who hosted an impressive art display through Darwen Terracotta at the festival, said: "I was introduced to Darwen Terracotta through an Art in Manufacturing residency organised by the National Festival of Making and have been making work responding to the factory, materials and production process.

"It's been great experience to work alongside the team there, who have been incredibly generous with their time, sharing their work and teaching me the processes they use in producing architectural tiles and Faience."