Two of the 700 children who attended the Michelin film show treat for children of employees, Karen (8) and Elaine (6) Haxton receiving the first of the Christmas gifts handed out to the youngsters as they entered the Studio One and Two cinemas.

About 700 children who packed into the Studio One and Two cinemas on Saturday, 11th December 1971, nearly raised the roof when they joined in mass singing of Christmas carols. The children, whose parents work at the Heasandford factory of the Michelin tyre company, were taking part in the firm's annual Christmas treat - paid for by the management. This year the treat was a festive film show, arranged specially for them by the cinema management. The youngsters had already received individual Christmas presents, distributed among their parents at the factory, but on arrival at the cinemas they each received fancy hats and a bag of crisps. Later on ice cream was added to the "menu" and on leaving the youngsters were given a bag of "goodies" by Father Christmas. "It was a huge success," Mr A Casson, Michelin's welfare officer at Burnley, who organised the event, told the Burnley Express.