A CARNIVAL aimed at bringing together various parts of Pendle while promoting sports and art activities has been declared a resounding success.

Organisers said the turnout for last Sunday's Carnival in the Park was better than expected and the event is believed to have attracted about 3,000 people.

A steering group of eight representatives from Pendle Leisure Trust, Pendle Sure Start, Pendle Women's Forum and the PHASE project, which is led by the primary care trust, was set up to submit a bid for funding to various sources.

Sponsorship was given by the Children's Fund, the council's neighbourhood renewal unit, Pendle Partnership and Pendle Community Network, as well as equipment, materials and manpower from local people and organisations.

The carnival was at the planning stage for 12 months and cost more than £14, 000 to put on.

Donna Stott, from Pendle Leisure Trust's sports development scheme, said: "We all got together to see how we could organise a family fun day for Pendle to get all the different areas together and we came up with Carnival in the Park.

"It brought together sports projects, including football, cricket and a 20ft climbing wall and arts activities, including a big top, puppet show, arts workshop, samba band, magic shows and storytelling.

"It was extremely successful and people tended to stay the whole day rather than come and go.

"There was a grand finale where about 150 children made masks and umbrellas and went in a procession around the park.

"It would be nice to have a similar event next year, but it was all based on certain funding so I don't know if there will be another one.

"The day was free so that it wasn't just directed at certain groups of the community and every child that attended went home with something, like a football from the goal competition, to encourage them to continue playing sports and taking part in art activities."