PADIHAM residents are getting ready for a 10-day festival of sport in the town.

The annual Padiham Sports Week kicks off tomorrow night with organisers promising fun for all the family.

And events co-ordinator Alan Smith said he was hoping the sun would continue to smile for the event which is promising to be even bigger and better than ever.

He said: "If we have weather like it has been this week then I'm sure it'll be a huge success. I've got my fingers and toes crossed that the sun will be shining."

The action gets under way with an Entertainment Night at Padiham Town Hall from 8pm until midnight followed by the Mayor's Mile Fun Run on Saturday around the grounds of Memorial Park. Entry fee is £2 for adults and £1 for children with proceeds going towards the Mayor's charity.

The next 10 days will feature cricket, taek-wondo, a duck race, bowling challenge match between the "Old Uns" and the "Young Uns" and a Padiham World Cup football competition. There are activities to choose from outdoors, indoors, on land and in the swimming pool.

Mr Smith said: "We try to put on as much sports and entertainment as possible that there's something for everyone.

"There's lots of variety and people don't have to be world Olympic sprinters or sporting champions. The event is to make people aware of sporting groups and community groups in the area."

Towards the end of the week there is an evening of sport and entertainment in Padiham Football Club's Arbories ground with guest speaker Jan Molby and comedian Willie Miller. Gawthorpe Festival and craft fair takes place the next day in the grounds of the hall.

The week is brought to an end with a family fun day and funfair at Padiham Football Club on Sunday, August 6.