WE were away this summer a bit longer than usual and in view of the weather here I am neither apologising nor complaining.

But apart from the weather it's been a good summer here in Colne.

The highlight was of course Steven Burke's cycling medal in the Olympics and the celebration in the main street on Bank Holiday Monday when 2000 people turned up to greet the local hero.

Brian Cookson asked him what he put it down to - the local air, the local hills or his Mum's cooking. "The local roads are good," said Steven - which rang true enough for the people like me who plod slowly up them on their bikes (or get off and walk)!

The celebration for Steven showed what can be done in a few days with some enthusiasm and the right contacts, and congratulations to local Councillors Ann Kerrigan and Dorothy Lord for organising it with the help of Steven's family and a few people at Pendle Council and Pendle Leisure Trust.

Brian Cookson himself is not only a top Pendle Council official but he's the president of British Cycling and has played a key part in bringing the Grand Prix race to Colne town centre each summer, an event that brings top cyclists and thousands of people into the town and one of the British Elite series.

This race is in turn part of the annual Pendle Bike Fest. I confess I missed it yet again though I had a good enough cycling excuse - we'd set off for our usual holiday haunt half way up the Col du Tourmalet, the most famous of the Pyrenean climbs on the Tour de France.

There has been more - not least the successful Colne Blues Festival at August Bank Holiday again organised by the Leisure Trust, and another great effort this year by the Colne in Bloom team, also led by Dorothy Lord.

In spite of the weather the town has been looking wonderful this summer.

There are councillors who spend a lot of time talking in meetings (and I confess I am one of them!) and there are those who roll up their sleeves and get things done.

And not just councillors. Colne can be proud of its "doers".