WESTHOUGHTON proved itself to be a real close-knit community after councillors, business owners and the public "yarn bombed" its high street.

Organiser Linda James, from the Rainbow Craft Group, made sure the town was covered in colour for the yarn bombing festival on Saturday as families flocked to view the various woolly displays.

The retired teaching assistant said: “We lost our carnival a few years ago and this is my way of introducing it back again which we hope to do next year.

“The festival is aimed at bringing the community together and we have done that by getting so many people involved.

“The ladies at Wingates Nursing Home have knitted a display and it’s nice to see them contribute.

“We’re excited to be giving something back to the community.”

Shop windows, lamp posts and benches were covered in bright woolly creations along Market Street.

Councillor Barbara Dodds said: “I think it’s fantastic. We need to market Westhoughton a little bit better and this is doing that.

Various businesses, community groups and individuals put on displays which were judged by a panel of judges.

Janice Bayliss, national vice chairman of the National Associations of Women's Clubs and chairman of the Westhoughton branch, was a judge on the day and added: "There's been a great effort from everyone here to make their display stand out."