THIS photograph, which is more than 100 years old, shows a Darwen housemaid's big day - her wedding day.

The date is March 14, 1904 and the wedding party have been captured on camera in the town's first wedding car.

The bride was a Welsh girl, called Annie McNamara, who worked in service for Darwen mill owner Alec Eccles, who was obviously a good man to work for.

He lent her his new motor car to travel to and from the ceremony at Hollins Grove Church and his home, The Grange, which has long since disappeared, for her reception.

Her lucky groom was a local lad, Sammy Catterall, in his top hat, who kept wicket for East Lancs Cricket Club for 21 years.

Separated by a bridesmaid, the happy couple are in the back seat of the car.

A report of the wedding in the Northern Daily Telegraph commented that the bride, dressed in white and wearing a white hat trimmed with pink roses, seemed to greatly enjoy the novelty, as did the bridesmaids, two very fair haired girls in pretty dove coloured gowns carrying large bunches of daffodils.

It was the first time the reporter had seen daffodils at a wedding, but hoped it would not be last as there was something so cheerful and gay about them.