THE first weekend of the 47th Burnley Methodist Festival was hailed as a success by organisers as the judges were asked to mark hundreds of entries of a high standard.

Nine churches took part in the festival, which was launched on Friday evening and will continue until Wednesday with a closing concert at the United Methodist Church at 7pm, on Friday.

Bible reading classes will be judged from 7.15pm tonight, with choir classes and instrumental music tomorrow, followed by poetry speaking and reading, mime and drama from 6.30pm on Wednesday.

Joyce Catlow, points and press secretary, said: "There were a lot of entries of a very high standard with two people getting 100 per cent."

FIRST PRIZE WINNERS

Vocal solo: 18 and over, A Binns and J Hargreaves (Brierfield). Duet: up to 14: S Isherwood and A Land (United), 18 and over: E Dixon and S Dixon (Brierfield). Vocal groups: Brierfield.

Composition of poem, under ten, E Yates (Wheatley Lane); 11 to 17 yrs, J Parker (United); 18 and over, E Beint (United). Composition of hymn, up to 17, M Bolton (Ightenhill), 18 and over, A Grange (Ightenhill).

Junior essays, up to six: N Kerr (Brierfield); seven to nine: E Yates; ten to 11: R Leathley (United). Senior essays: 12 to 17: J Catlow (Ightenhill) and J Parker (United); 18 and over: C Taylor.

Handwriting, 11 to 13: R Leathley; 14 to 17: M Bolton; 18 and over, M Simpson (Ightenhill). Pen lettering, open,:M Simpson.

Art, up to five: I Kerr (Brierfield); six to eight: L Kennedy (Greenbrook); nine to 11: E Hindle (Greenbrook); 12 to 17: Jenny Parker; 18 and over: Jane Parker (United).

Model making, Lego, up to five J Swinton (Wheatley Lane); six to eight:J Beaumont (Wheatley Lane); nine to 11: M Johnson (Central). Kit models, up to 15: J Jeffrey (Ightenhill); clay models, up to 11: L Fishwick (Brunshaw); 12 to 17: K Morris (Brunshaw); 18 and over: S Haigh (United). Scrap models, up to five,:D Shapland (Brierfield); six to eight: H Padgett (Wheatley Lane); nine to 11: M Barnes (Wheatley Lane); 12 to 17: M Bolton. Woodwork, up to 11: M Burton (Brierfield); 12 to 17: C Hanson (United). Embroidered greeting cards, up to 17: M Bolton; 18 and over: P Edwards (Central). Cross stitch, up to eight: H Binns (Ightenhill); 18 and over: M Dodding (Brunshaw). Tapestry, 18 and over: J Smith (Brunshaw). Embroidery, 18 and over: D Myers (Brierfield). Toy making, up to seven: H Leathley (Ightenhill); eight to nine: B Parker (United); ten to 11: M Barnes; 18 and over: J Smith.

Sunday school project, models, up to seven:Wheatley Lane; eight to 12: Brunshaw. Scrap books, up to seven: Wheatley Lane; 13 to 15: Brierfield. Greetings cards, up to six: D Grange (Ightenhill); seven to ten: M Barnes; 11 to 12: R Leathley; 13 to 15: M Bolton; 16 and over: M White (Brunshaw). Floral, up to eight: M Berry (Central); nine to 12: N Berry (Central); 13 to 17: M Bolton; 18 and over: A Clark (Ightenhill); open: M White. Artificial flowers: M White; foliage plant: P Edwards.

Cookery by recipe, up to nine: J Miller (Brunshaw); ten to 12: M Barnes; 13 to 17: M Bolton; 18 and over: P Bury (Central); open: D Kaylow (United).

Cookery, up to ten: M Barnes; open: V Smith (Central); open: J Gilliver (Central).

Photography, up to ten: A Grange (Ightenhill); 11 to 17: M Bolton; 18 and over: S Dixon and H Lawton.