THE development of better transport made major in-roads into the lives of East Lancashire folk.

In the late 1800s and beyond, if people wanted to travel they used a horse and trap or cart, or walked - and there are many tales of families walking miles to visit relatives.

The railways brought an extra dimension to travel, and as more and more lines opened across the country, so people could see more of it. But, just as the days of the trams, passengers could only go as far as the tracks allowed.

It was the invention of the combustion engine that enabled more people to get further afield, first it was in open topped charabancs - often lorries in weekdays, which, with seats added, became vehicles for visits to the coast and the countryside - although speeds were exceedingly slow.

As the 1920s progressed these were replaced by saloon buses - and suddenly people were going places, not only on holidays further afield, but on day trips, too.

Fifty and sixty years ago, works outings were a major part of the summer calendar and this image from Earby History Society, shows a group of workers and their families from Johnson and Johnson, all ready to board their bus for a day out in the 1950s.