THE Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival drew in crowds of talented youngsters and adults from across the North during its opening weekend.

Entries were up a fifth on last year and the large number of competitors meant the music, speech and drama classes held on Saturday were spread across three venues: Colne Municipal Hall, Colne Parish Church and St John's Methodist church rooms.

Kathleen Bannister, recorder of events, said: "The speech and drama had introduced several new classes which were well supported and the adjudicators were very pleased with the standard of work presented.

"The excitement throughout the day was evident and revealed the spirit of youth at its best. The music section also produced some fine performances, several of outstanding brilliance.

"It was also pleasing to note the encouraging number of entries from our own locality."

The festival continues next Saturday, December 1, when the adults take to the stage in the Municipal Hall and St John's with the grand finale at 6pm featuring the Rose Bowl Competition, The Thomas Land Memorial Competition and the Ladies' Choirs and Cup Choral.

LOCAL WINNERS

MUSIC Silverman Shield for highest percentage marks by a Pendle competitor: Gemma Horsfall, Nelson.

Piano, up to nine: Oliver Gill, Burnley; up to 12: Nicholas Howley, Burnley; solo up to 10: Becky Halliwell, Bacup; boys' solo, open: Marc Noble, Rossendale; girls' solo up to 18: Gemma Horsfall, Nelson; The Silverman Shield: Gemma Horsfall.

Junior light opera/musical: Jennifer Holden taught by Judith Briscall of Colne. Instrumental, brass: Benjamin Yates, Rawtenstall.

Folk song: Gemma Horsfall. Junior British Composer: Gemma Horsfall.

SPEECH AND DRAMA Verse speaking, up to 5: Mark Rees, Euxton; 6 to 8: Thomas Rees, Euxton; 9-1: Kimberley Pearce, Read; 12-15: James Hopkinson, Brierfield; 16 or over: Abigail Warren, Euxton.

A talk, 11-13: Kimberley Pearce; 14-16: Ben Freeman, Read; Shakespeare class, up to 15: Roseanna Leathley, Brierfield; over 16: Abigail Warren; dramatic extract 10-13: Sarah-Jane Whitehead, Burnley; Bible reading, up to 12: Jessica Holt, Burnley; 13-15: Jenna Webster, Burnley; 16 or over: Shirley Bateson, Colne.

Prepared prose, up to 12: Nicola West, Euxton; 13-15: James Hopkinson; 16 or over: Pamela Jelley, Simonstone; dramatic extract, up to 9: Christopher Rees, Euxton; 14 or over: Abigail Warren.

Favourite poem, 8-12: Sarah-Jane Whitehead; 13-17: Jenna Webster; 18 or over: Shirley Bateson; composition of poem 13-17: Ben Freeman, Read; 18 or over: Mary Baxter, Burnley; dialect poem, up to 14: Rosamund Lawson, Euxton; 15 or over: Carolyn Booth, Euxton; senior dialect: Jack Greenwood, Colne; story telling: Max Hardy, Euxton; shape poem: Bradley Farnell, Sacred Heart Primary School; journalistic reporting: Amy Penman, St Michael and All Angels; composition of poem 18 or over.

Senior short story: Renee Blackburn, Colne.