BLACKBURN is being spruced up before the red carpet is rolled out for the Queen and Prince Philip on Maundy Thursday.

Volunteers will be spending the weekend collecting litter and will even offer to clean the doors and windows of businesses in and around the town centre if needed.

People are being urged to take part in tomorrow’s event, from 10am to 2pm, arranged as part of the borough council’s Your Call campaign.

As well as the clean-up, flowers are being planted in the cathedral garden, to ensure the town looks its best for when Her Majesty hands out Maundy Money to people from all over Lancashire.

Council officials had already planned a First World War theme for spring planting, and plans to put new flowers in have been moved forward to tie in with the monarch’s visit.

A spokeswoman said: “We are keeping our planting to red, white and blue colours for the next four years. We introduced, as part of our review of resources, a dedicated gardener for the town centre, which is showing the benefits, with the improvements to the planting and general maintenance around the town centre.”

Police have also been securing the cathedral and officers wearing purple gloves have been seen searching the building and the grounds Blackburn with Darwen Council Coun Kate Hollern leader said: “We feel extremely proud that our cathedral was chosen for the Royal Maundy celebrations and in the run-up to the official visit, wanted to share that feeling of pride with an event that really brings the community together.

“People who take part in Your Call activities are invaluable.”

She added: “I wanted to say thank-you to everyone who is giving up their time to allow us to offer all of these fun activities and I for one am looking forward to joining in myself.

“This is a fantastic borough and has a real community spirit which events such as these brings out.”

Tomorrow’s fun day on King William Street runs from 10am to 2pm, where people can meet for the clean-up, and when children can make their own Maundy Money from pottery. There will be a face painter and craft stall for making bunting or a regal flag.

There will also be a mini fun fair by the town hall and puppet-making workshops.

And Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is displaying a collection of Maundy Money, from Wednesday to Saturday, from noon until 4.45pm.