THOUSANDS of people gathered to celebrate an iconic piece of Blackburn’s history at the weekend at a Canal Festival described as “bigger and better” than before.

Around 5,000 people travelled to catch a piece of the action along the banks of the canal at Eanam Wharf for the fourth festival, which celebrated 200 years of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

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Co-founder Kelvin Gudger said that more boats than ever lined up all along the banks and he couldn’t believe the ever-growing success of the event.

He said: “This year was the best ever, there’s got to have been at least 5,000 people here over the course of the weekend.

“I think the best thing has been the amount of variety this year and the amount of boats, which has been the most ever.

“Without the canal, Blackburn would not be what it is, it’s very important that we celebrate the history of it.

“I have high hopes for next year now, onwards and upwards, it’s been an amazing weekend which everyone seems to have been very impressed by.”

Scores of food and artisan market stalls, traditional and modern dance, drama performances, face painting, live music, canal boat trips and a football tournament were just some of the features that drew people.

One of the most iconic scenes of the weekend was a colourful mass release of origami swans on Saturday and one or two could still be seen hanging around for the rest of celebration.

Alan Lyon travelled from Liverpool to the event and said that it was important for him to support the whole community of Britain’s longest waterway.

He said: “We live quite close to the canal in Liverpool and have seen it grow with things like the Albert Dock coming in.

“It’s important to come down and support our friends, we’re all part of a big community all along the canal.”

“The diversity has been excellent this year, people of all ages have been able to enjoy it.”

Maggie Tunstall from Oswaldtwistle, who had brought her boat with her partner, said: “We came here when this festival was first kicking off a few years ago and there were only a couple of narrowboats.

“Coming back this year we can’t believe how much bigger it’s got.”

“It’s excellent for Blackburn and I hope it’s going to get even better next year.”