THE Friends of Rossendale Carnival have been awarded £2,525 to help fund the event.

This year's carnival is being held in Bacup on Sunday, June 27.

To celebrate the Olympics the theme this year will be rings.

The £2,525 grant will be spent on hiring performers to represent each of the five continents of the world, including an Asian dance troupe, a Samba band and African drummers.

Carnival organisers hope that this will encourage more ethnic minority communities in Rossendale to join in the fun.

The Rossendale Mela Committee has also received at grant of £6,000 from the Local Network Fund.

The Mela will take place on the final day of Rossendale Alive, which runs from Saturday, July 17 to Sunday, July 25.