RECORD numbers attended the Sunnyhurst family gala.

More than 5,000 people were estimated to have visited the Darwen beauty spot yesterday. The biggest attendance previously was 3,000.

Entertainment laid on included a dog show, birds of prey, face painting, a bouncy castle, a roundabout, and music from Balderstone Brass Band and Accrington band.

Dennis Gillibrand, of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods which organised the event said: "It was a family day and that is what we wanted it to be. It was a good, old-fashioned day.

"There were record numbers. There was so many people we stopped counting at 5,000. We couldn't believe it.

"The aim of our group is not money but just to get people into the woods.

"Anything we raise will be spent on the woods -- we have spent £30,000 here in four years.

"The group has worked so hard and we would just like to thank the support of the committee and all the other people who helped make it a success."