A SERIES of artworks showcasing an East Lancashire town centre are set to be opened to the public tomorrow.

More than 20 pieces of art have been submitted to the Paint the Town competition which was run by The Bureau - Centre for the Arts in Blackburn.

Budding artists from as far as Derbyshire have entered works, which all depict iconic Blackburn town centre.

There are views of the Cathedral Quarter, Darwen Street, Church Street, Railway Street and more.

The works include acrylic, printing, oil paints and painting onto a sheet of steel.

Each work is set to undergo several rounds of judging and with cash prizes for the winners.

Stella Bootham, the competition’s coordinator, said she was amazed by the standards of work that has been submitted.

She said: “It’s been a really good year.

“This is our fourth event now and the works are fantastic.

“They all capture a feel for the town.

“We have some fantastic architecture here - traditional and contemporary - that we need to celebrate.

“People have stood out in the cold and the rain to create these great works of art.

“All the artworks we have in our exhibition are incredible and are all deserved of a top prize.

“Judging will be very difficult.”

On Thursday the winners will be crowned and the works will go on display in a specially adapted exhibition room at the Daniel Thwaites Training Centre building in Penny Street.

Mrs Boothman said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us in this project, the sponsors and the artists who submitted their work.

“I wish them all the best of luck for Thursday.”

This is the first Paint the Town competition that has been held since a huge fire ripped through The Bureau - Centre for the Arts' home, The Church of St. John the Evangelist, in Victoria Street, burnt down in April this year.

The group were given a temporary home in the Thwaites building and have held other exhibitions and displays there.