YOUNG eco-warriors have been working hard ahead of Blackburn’s first end-of-summer parade.

Supporters of the Festival of Light have devised an environmentally-friendly crusade to stir up the imagination over the school holidays.

A spectacular parade of costumes, puppets, dancers and more will take place on Sunday, September 1.

Among the items to be paraded include a giant green man’s head, a rhino, a giant sea monster and other ocean inhabitants.

The costumes and puppets are made out of recyclable material in a bid to highlight pollution which goes into the world’s oceans on a regular basis.

The volunteers have been busy putting paint to paper, but they need the help of the public and have devised a series of public workshops.

Kerris Casey-St.Pierre, one of the organisers, said: “These free workshops are perfect for young people to get creative and be part of something really fun and satisfying.

“These workshops will also give a chance for people to be part of the festival.

“You can make new friends, get messy and have lots of fun in the process.”

All the workshops will take place in August.

Extinct and endangered animals will be the focus of a drop-in workshop, at their new home in the former Thwaites training room on Penny Street, on Friday.

Exploring the benefits of trees, plants and nature spirits is pencilled in for similar sessions on Tuesday, and Saturday.

There will be dance and parade movement workshops on Wednesday and Tuesday 27.

Still walking and circus skills workshops will take place on Thursday, Monday 26, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28.

Street band workshops and rehearsals will take place today, from 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

For further details about the workshops and parade, which is being supported by the borough council, Blackburn BID, The People’s Projects initiative and Blackburn Hive, contact the arts centre on 07845 964802.