International Women’s Day celebrations showed how united Blackburn is.

Community leaders praised the event at Blackburn Town Hall and said it went to highlight the town was not as divided as portrayed in the BBC Panorama White Fright documentary, which was broadcast in January.

Cllr Maureen Bateson said a mix of people from across the town had turned out to make the event a success and added the town had been ‘absolutely buzzing’.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to all the organisations who took part this week in our International Women’s Day Events,” she said.

Updating members at a Blackburn with Darwen Council executive board meeting, Cllr Bateson added: “There was a fantastic event at the cathedral on Tuesday where all sorts of people were brought together.

“It was buzzing and I just wish Panorama had been there to see what Blackburn is really like.”

Cllr Phil Riley said: “It would be wrong of me not to congratulate Maureen for her absolutely inspirational efforts to make this happen.

“I know how hard she has worked for it and it must be rewarding when you see so many people involved.”

Special tribute was made to women past and present who have contributed to the success of Blackburn and Darwen as part of the programme of activity.

Images of campaigning women from the last 100 years, including former Blackburn MP Baroness Barbara Castle, appeared in bus shelters, digital screens and in The Mall.

The theme for this year was ‘Press for Progress’.

In the run up to the day, Cllr Bateson spearheaded efforts to raise the profile of the annual event on Thursday, which also recognised the centenary of women’s right to vote in the UK.

A campaign to put up a statue of trailblazing former Blackburn MP Barbara Castle in the town centre was launched.

A special appeal hopes to raise £50,000 from the public to pay for the high-profile landmark paying tribute to her contribution to the town and the role of women in public life.

The former Labour cabinet minister was the Blackburn MP from 1945 to 1979, a life peer and a Euro MP in a long and celebrated political career.

Supporters, who want a lifelike statue located in a prominent position in the town centre, chose International Women’s Day for the appeal launch in memory of one of the 20th century’s most important female politicians.

Highlights of the week of events ranged from a coach trip to the London March 4 Women event, artwork including a mural outside Blackburn Museum and a timeline in The Mall to courses to improve mental wellbeing, a talk about Darwen’s prominent women and a market place of information and activities in Blackburn Cathedral.