A HERITAGE festival could become an annual event following its first year success.

Bosses at the Blackburn Business Improvement District are celebrating the popularity of the town’s festival, which was held on September 13 and 14.

Organiser Harriet Roberts and a team of volunteers pulled together more than 100 history-themed activities and events which included Victorian fairground rides, steam engines and a pop up bandstand on Cathedral green to tie in with the national Heritage Open Days event.

The festival also saw X Factor star and Queen of the Jungle Stacey Solomon host a vintage fashion show in The Mall.

Newly installed footfall counters measured a 38 per cent increase in footfall across the town centre compared to the weekend before.

Harriet said she was looking forward to 2015.

She added: “More than 30 people from all quarters came to our feedback meeting this week which demonstrated a ground swell of support for the Heritage Festival.

“There’s a consensus that a committee should be formed to ensure next year is bigger and better.

“Suggestions have included guided walks between venues, a Blackburn pageant using different community groups and schools, and the creation of a heritage consortium to pull together the many independent groups with passion and pride in the rich history of the town.”

Organisers have entered the festival for the Lancashire Tourism Awards Event of the Year category.

Coun Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen’s regeneration boss, said: “The weekend was a real success. The overall event, atmosphere and vibrancy in the town was great. Everybody, especially Harriet and her team, deserve a richly deserved vote of thanks for a job well done.”