THE sun shone brightly for the thousands of people who attended this year's Darwen Lions Gala.

More than 6,000 people attended the event, which is now in its 22nd year and was held on Blacksnape playing fields in Darwen.

Visitors enjoyed a variety of funfair events and stalls, which included displays by the fire brigade, the police, the Royal Navy Royal Marines and the Army.

Local charities included Christies against Cancer, Dogs for the Blind and Animal Samaritans.

There was also an aerial slide, a puppet show, bouncy castles and funfair rides for the youngsters.

Former president of the Lion's, Ian Ashton, said: "It went very very well. The sun shone and that is what matters to the people in Darwen.

"We were hopeful of this sort of afternoon and grateful to the people of Darwen for their support and the continued efforts of the charity stall holders.

"We were a bit worried in the morning when we saw the state of the pitch and thought we would have had a quagmire but it brightened up and everything went tremendously."