Blackburn's annual Festival of Light pre-Christmas lantern parade has been cancelled and replaced by a smaller event.

It's organisers have partnered with the council to stage the ‘Share Your Light’ event on Saturday, December 16, instead.

It will feature Blackburn Festival of Light drummers, walkabout performers and light installations at The Firepit Tipis in Blackburn’s Cathedral Square.

It will be part of a day of festive family fun in the town centre with a Santa’s Grotto there during the day, the 'Share Your Light' event from 5pm plus the Cathedral’s Christmas Spectacular from 7.30pm.

There’ll also be a Kerrang’d live music tribute show at the Tipis that evening.

The full Festival of Light', which has been running since 2012, is scheduled to return next year.

Its website says: "Unfortunately we don’t have the full funding for a parade festival event this year. However, don’t panic!

"We’re really excited to announce that we are working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council and The Firepit Tipis and will be hosting ‘Share Your Light‘ – an evening event instead!"

Kerris Casey-St.Pierre, from the Blackburn Festival of Light, said: “This year we’re looking forward to doing something a little bit different.

“We were planning to have a bit of a sabbatical from the Blackburn Festival of Light this year before starting to plan ahead to 2024, however we’re excited to be able to announce this new event working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council and The Firepit Tipis.

“The ‘Share Your Light’ evening event will bring Blackburn Festival of Light drummers, fantastic walkabout performers and light installations with a festival atmosphere to Cathedral Square.

“We’re so looking forward to seeing our community come together once again to help make this a fabulous event.”

Ahead of the event, there will be free workshops at the Blackburn Festival of Light hub in the Lewis Building, in Exchange Street.

Cllr Quesir Mahmood, deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We’re working really hard to be able to offer free, festive fun for all in the run up to Christmas.

“This will be a great event at The Firepit Tipis, which are already proving hugely popular, with the team behind the Blackburn Festival of Light.

“We also have our new ‘Discover Christmas in Blackburn with Darwen’ campaign encouraging residents and visitors to support our town centres and we know events like this are hugely popular and a big draw."