AN inaugral Darwen Town Council mayor’s command performance will raise money to maintain Darwen Tower.

A similar event for the mayor of Blackburn with Darwen has been held for a decade at Darwen’s Library Theatre.

And now, the mayor of Darwen Town Council will get their own show, with the town’s 115-year-old monument to benefit.

Town Councillor Stephen Potter is responsible for the newly-formed Friends of Darwen Tower group.

He said: “We started the group when the dome blew off and we are just trying to get a few people together.

“I have had some interest, it just needs organising properly now.

“The group would do basic cleaning of the tower to make it look nice and make it somewhere people will still want to go.

“Anything the borough council doesn’t have money for, we will try to do.”

Darwen town council deputy chairman Steve Duncan said: “In Darwen there’s already friends groups for Sunnyhurst Woods and the cemetery, among others.

“We are fortunate in this town to have a lot of people interested in helping with these sorts of things.”

The mayor’s command will be one of the events commemorating the outgoing of the current mayor, Coun Paul Browne.

Coun Browne said: “I see it as an honour for the council to do it for me in my final year as mayor.

“I just hope the artists that know me will come and perform.

“Friends of Darwen Tower was my choice as the charity. That’s what I told Steve Duncan I wanted the money raised to go towards.

“Now we have got the top back on we can keep on top of it and help the borough council with its maintenance, so everyone will benefit.”

The show will take place at the Library Theatre on Saturday, April 14.

Artists wishing to appear can contact Steve Burch at steve.burch@blackburn.gov.uk Anyone wishing to help with the Friends of Darwen Tower group is urged to contact Coun Stephen Potter on 07756 257484 or email SPotter@darwentowncouncil.org.uk