Blackburn with Darwen town centres will be lit up on Saturday to raise awareness on Suicide Prevention Day.

Two public vigils in Blackburn and Darwen town centres and a candle-lit procession will be held to raise awareness for suicide in the borough.

Suicide Prevention Day is held on Saturday, September 10 and this year’s proceedings will begin at 11am with a multi-faith vigil outside Blackburn Town Hall featuring speeches and the lighting of a candle.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The theme is Creating Hope Through Action and through action, you can make a difference to someone in their darkest moments."

The main part of the vigil will include 40 seconds of silence to signify that one person dies of suicide around the world every 40 seconds.

At 12pm, a candle lit procession will begin led by representatives from a number of men only peer support groups including Men in Sheds, Creative Football and Talk Ourselves Well.

These groups provide a safe space for men to talk and learn new skills in a safe and supportive environment.

These representatives will carry the candle to Darwen where a vigil will take place in Darwen Town Hall Square at 2pm.

Additionally, Re-Align Futures are offering safeTALK training on Friday, September 9 where people can learn four basic steps to recognise people with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources.

The training session will run for three hours and is  for everyone over 15 who  lives, works or studies in the borough and is passionate about wanting to help prevent suicide.

A council spokesperson said: "Taking time to reach out to someone – a family member, friend, colleague or even a stranger – could change the course of another’s life.

"Join us for our local activity around World Suicide Prevention Day, on Friday September 10.

"We are holding vigils outside Blackburn Town Hall and at Darwen Market Square and everyone is welcome."

You can register for the public vigils on Saturday here.

To sign up for the safeTALK training visit here.