A FULL set of autographs signed in Darwen by The Beatles are set to fetch up to £3,000 when it goes under the auctioneer's hammer next week.

The autographs were written on the back of a 1962 publicity card, which also features Pete Best, the so-called 'fifth Beatle', who was sacked as The Beatles' drummer on August 16, 1962, and replaced with Ringo Starr.

The Fab Four played live at the Co-operative Hall in Darwen on Friday, January 25,1963.

And it took place just a few weeks before Beatle-mania swept the country as they achieved first number one hit record, From Me To You, on May 2,1963.

The gig was organised by the Baptist Youth and was advertised in Darwen as 'the greatest teenage dance!'.

Admission was by ticket only and each ticket cost six shillings, 30p in today's money.

They were sold in advance at Nightingales record shop, the Co-Op travel agency, Walsh's cycle shop in Bridge Street, Darwen, and Nelson's grocer shop in Blackburn Road, Darwen.

Support acts were The Electones, the Mike Taylor Combo and The Mustangs with Ricky Day.

The Beatles visited Darwen as part of a tour which took in The Cavern in Liverpool, Assembly Hall in Mold, El Rio club in Macclesfield and the King's Hall in Stoke on Trent.

They also topped the charts with She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand in the same year.

The signatures are to go under the hammer at Bonhams in London next Wednesday, June 29.