A town's bid to win the North West in Bloom contest is being strengthened by the introduction of a unique water feature.

The structure, which will appear in the newly refurbished Market Street area of Colne, is part of the 'Colne in Bloom' team's bid for glory in the regional contest.

It measures about four metres in diameter and is made up of a number of unusual looking steel balls, which water then passes over intermittently to create a soothing sound.

Members of the Colne in Bloom team pulled off a major coup by obtaining funding for the modern structure.

It cost almost £10,000 and was paid for entirely by local businessman, Lee Duerden, who owns XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd on Albert Road.

The team, who receive some funding from Pendle Council, said they would have had to settle for flower displays if the private sponsorship had not materialised.

Coun Dorothy Lord, was instrumental in the intro-duction of the structure.

She said: "It was my idea to have a water feature.

"I pushed for it because we don't have anything like it in Colne and we were lucky because we were able to get funding from our very generous sponsor.

"When it is finished, it will be a really lovely area for people to shop, sit and look at the flowers or listen to the water.

"Nobody will recognise the area from what it was."

The Market Street area has been revived over the past year with high-quality landscaping and street lighting, communal seating areas, new shop canopies, plus extra short stay car parking for shoppers.

Mr Duerden's business also contributed £10,000 towards the construction of "Millie" the statue of a Colne mill girl in the town's railway station gardens, two years ago.

He said: "I admire the Colne in Bloom campaign's effort and sometimes think it goes unnoticed by the council and even some residents but the work they do is gruelling and if it wasn't for their persistence the town centre area would just be a paved uninspiring blank area.

"It's something I am proud to sponsor and I look forward to seeing it finished."

Judges arrive in to cast their eyes over the feature and other exhibits on July 21.