ALMOST 4,000 people visited Great Harwood as part of the town's first Winter Warmer celebration.

And organisers have hailed the event as a huge success.

The Winter Warmer, which featured a parade, fancy dress and market stalls, took place on December 2, and made a profit of £2,747.70, along with £1,147.33 for the Asian earthquake appeal.

Janet Doyle, one of the organisers of the event, told Great Harwood Area Council meeting: "We did fantastically well.

"It was the first Winter Warmer and as a whole it went very well and almost to plan.

"We had almost 4,000 people come in to town.

"They came in as part of the parade, or in fancy dress, or to do carol singing. They spent money in our shops, in our town.

"Most of the shops did really well on the night. We had a lot of people from out of town come in and spend in the town across the whole of December."

Plans are now being made for this year's event.