THERE was a time when this would have been a familiar sight in towns across East Lancashire - the local coal yard.

Taken in 1975 this was the coal yard in Great Harwood where stocks of coal were piled up ready to deliver to both businesses and homes in the town.

The photograph was taken in July so demand for coal was at its lowest coal merchants would have been busy getting in tocks and getting them out to their customers in preparation for when the weather ‘turned’.

In the background you can see the gasometer off Heys Lane and Balfour Street.