Lytham flies the flag

For Lytham has been transformed by yarn bombers for the town’s flag festival event.

Trees and street furniture have been bedecked with multi-coloured knitting and crochet works.

Some 80 banners have gone on display around the town for the festival, designed to draw in extra visitors and highlight all that is good about the town.

Works have been provided by groups including Ansdell 2nd Brownies, local knitting groups and individuals.

Organiser Richard Marshall said: “There has been an amazing response to the festival with local community members contributing knitting and crochet items for the yarn bombing display.

“Our thanks go to everyone, including pupils from Lytham Hall Park Primary who have been designing bunting for a competition sponsored by Stringers department store, members from Park View Education Team who hosted flag-making workshops and members from Lytham Business Partnership and the local council who have arranged the funding for the festival.”

The flags are flying from brackets along Clifton Street and other shopping areas installed previously to accommodate Christmas trees.

Mr Marshall said: “I am thrilled at the amount of support and interest in the flag festival – there are a lot of creative people out there. The aim of the festival is to bring together local schools, community groups, businesses and residents to celebrate all that is great about Lytham and it has been heartening to see businesses and groups working together.”

Richard, the man behind the Lytham Arts Festival, which has proved a success over the past two summers, has organised the Festival on behalf of the Lytham Business Partnership using funds allocated through Fylde Council’s High Street Innovation Fund and it is hoped it might become an annual event with the potential to grow even bigger in years to come.

Denize Ashton, chairman of the Lytham Business Partnership, said: “We are always looking for new ways to encourage locals to come into their town and attract visitors from near and far.”