THE rain is set to hold off for a huge range of special events that are due to take place in East Lancashire over the bank holiday weekend.

The latest weather forecasts are predicting that the mercury will rise slightly to 15c over the three days with the rain holding off until later into next week.

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Armies of volunteers and organisations have been working over the last 12 months in preparation for the second-to-last bank holiday weekend of the year.

Saturday will see the annual Chipping Steam Fair roll back into the Ribble Valley where thousands of people are expected to attend the event at the Green Lane Showground.

An exhibition entitled Opposites Attract will be staged at the Pendle Heritage Centre , Barrowford, on Saturday from 10.30am.

Hollywood Bees, a performance featuring the music of The Hollies, will also be staged in Clitheroe from 7.30pm. A performance of The Boy Who Bit Picasso will be held on the same day at Accrington Library from 1pm.

Sunday will see the first day of the annual Darwen Live festival, which will feature performances from the likes of Leah Haworth, Chris Flynn and English Outback from 3pm.

A production of The Magic of Pinocchio will also be staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn from 4pm and from 2pm the following day.

The annual Pendle Powerfest will also return on Sunday from 10am to 4pm and will be based at Nelson and Colne College.

The family motor show will raise money for Speed of Sight, Pendleside Hospice and the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team.

A Crafty Vintage Fair is due to kick off the bank holiday Monday at Hoghton Tower from 10am with performances from Ramsy Lohan, They Are Older and Myth of Unity also due to perform on the second day of Darwen Live.

Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, said: β€œIt’s great that there are so many volunteers in East Lancashire that will give up so much of their time to organise these events.”