THE first of six free puppet-making workshops was held at Helmshore Textile Museums as a forerunner to a theatre's puppet festival.

It is the second time Puppetsense has been organised by the Waterfoot-based Horse and Bamboo Theatre company and was made possible thank to partners including Rossendale Council, Helmshore Textile Museums and Mid Pennine Arts.

The festival will run from May 24 to 26 with workshops, performances, exhibitions, competitions and street shows. The free workshops will be at the museums next Saturday and Saturday May 18 from 10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm.

For more information contact Helmshore Textile Museums on 01706 226459.