VISITORS to a Rossendale museum will be entertained by clowns, pantomime dames and Punch and Judy shows this week.

Helmshore Mills Textile Museum has been inspired by it current exhibition Grin Up North, which has proved popular with older visitors.

The exhibition explores the influence of northern comedians including Hylda Baker, Les Dawson, Peter Kay, Ken Dodd, Gracie Fields and George Formby.

It also includes a display of traditional saucy seaside postcards.

To attract more younger visitors to the exhibition the museum has included events such as pantomime dame face-painting classes, clown heads days, puppet making and a Punch and Judy Show.

Catriona West, the museum's keeper, said: "The events are aimed at encouraging family visits to the museum.

"We are really looking forward to holding the Punch and Judy Shows.

"These are occasionally held at our sister museum in Fleetwood where they are very popular, so we thought we could see if Rossendale families would enjoy the experience."

The Grin Up North exhibition will be on show at the museum until the end of October.

For more information about activities at the museum telephone 01706 226459.