Avenham park on a sunny Saturday

I've spent a warm and pleasant day in Preston. The weather's been perfect and by late afternoon everyone seemed to have headed to the park that runs down towards the River Ribble. Although the leaves are barely unfurled and the daffodils not yet faded, sunbathing, picnics and barbecues were in full swing here in Avenham Park

The industrial revolution swelled Preston's population from 2000 to almost 60,000 during the course of the 19th century as it transformed from a small trading port into a major manufacturing centre. Fortunately the Victorian city fathers who owned the industries and claimed the profits also thought to provide parks for the benefit of the workers who wouldn't have got much fresh air elsewhere. The factories have gone now and the atmosphere is clean again but the townspeople still make the most of this legacy of green lungs.