More than 200 residents of all ages came to say farewell to the popular library, which has been open for 84 years and has been forced to close as its services will be moving to the new purpose-built Burnley Schools' Sixth Form Campus in Barden Lane.

Former Burnley, Everton and England player Martin Dobson was a special guest at the celebration and presented a copy of his new book, "Ultimate Goals", to 11-year-old Daniel Robinson, who designed the winning bookmark for the library's bookmark competition. Mr Dobson, who is now youth coach at Burnley Football Club, also signed photos for the youngsters, posed for pictures and chatted about his football career.

Runners-up in the bookmark competition were sisters Rimsha, Rida and Saba Khaled, who received high street vouchers and book tokens.

Mrs Christine Sollis, library manager, said: "It is so incredibly sad the library will not be here any more. Everyone who is here are regulars of the library, and there have been a lot of people who haven't been here for years, or who moved away from the area and have come back to have a last look at the library.

"We didn't just want to close the doors and do nothing, we wanted to celebrate the library, as it has always been a community-based library and everyone knows everyone else here. To see it close is just heartbreaking really, but the response to the last day has been absolutely brilliant."

Mrs Sollis added: "As sad as it is, though, we are also looking forward to the future and the new library which is being built on the new Burnley campus, and I hope we will see everyone who used this library there.

"I want to thank all the people who used the library and everyone who came for the last day.

"The turnout was amazing and it showed the love people have for the library. I also want to say a big thank-you to Nazya Khalis, our Asian services librarian, Alison Turner from children's services and her team, and Thursby Gardens Action Group, who all helped to make the day so wonderful."