A SERIES of canal trails is to be created to highlight historical links between Pendle communities, canals and the cotton industry.

Heritage trails will be mapped out in Brierfield, Nelson and Colne in a bid to tempt more tourists into the area.

The Canal Corridor Wider Forum, which is developing the trails, is appealing to residents to take a walk down Memory Lane and contribute ideas and memories by joining walkabout sessions which begin tomorrow.

Local historians, council officers and the North West Sound Archive are already involved in establishing the project, but the group hopes to build on the historic links between the canals and the communities to find out more about the industrial history.

Trails are expected to be circular routes, coming off the canalside in Nelson and Brierfield and will be known as Tacklers' Trails, referring to key workers in the cotton industry.

They will include information boards and interactive displays with information about historic local characters and events.

Members of the forum sub-group have already submitted an expression of interest for £12,000 of European funding for the project, but cannot make a full application for the cash until specific plans have been drawn up.

Chairman David Penney said: "The first step for this project is to try to engage with local people who have lived in the area.

"We are asking them to take a walk down Memory Lane to help us establish people and places of interest which have helped to build up the community.

"We want to capture a true feeling of the area at the turn of the 19th Century.

"Hopefully this project can also become part of the regeneration of the Whitefield area and can also help attract tourists to the area."

The first walk will start at the Lomeshaye Canal Bridge in Nelson tomorrow at 10.30am.

Suggestions from will be followed up at a planning meeting in the members' room at Nelson Town Hall at 2pm on Monday.