TODAY is Lancashire Day and town criers in 16 places across the historic county mark the day with a special proclamation.

Lancashire Day celebrates that on November 27, 1295, the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as 'The Model Parliament'.

Town criers will be shouting the Lancashire Day Proclamation with pride today outside Ashton-under-Lyne, Chadderton, Clitheroe, Formby, Garstang, Grange-over-Sands, Great Harwood, Littleborough, Nelson, Ormskirk, Rainford, Shaw, Southport, Standish, Ulverston and Warrington.

The Proclamation was read out in Galgate, Great Eccleston and Thornton Cleveleys yesterday.

We asked five local personalities to name their favourite spot in our beautiful county.

JIM BOWEN, comedian: "The Lune Valley. It’s where I live now because it is the prettiest place in the north of England with the Ribble Valley coming a close second."

WAYNE HEMINGWAY, designer: "It has to be Ewood Park, so I can watch Blackburn Rovers. I also love running from my wife’s family home in Padiham over to Sabden and back."

CARL FOGARTY, motorbike racer: "The Ribble Valley is a beautiful area. Waddington is so scenic with the river running through the village."

ALICE BARRY, Shameless actor: "Blackpool It has everything going on — the shows and the piers. Then there’s Towneley Hall and Lancaster and its castle, which are so historic."

DENNIS MENDOROS, High Sheriff of Lancashire: "Pendle Hill. It’s a landmark that can be seen across East Lancashire. It is an area of natural beauty and has been recognised by the Duchy of Lancaster. I go up Pendle Hill about three times a year and I would advise people to go up it on days like today."

The Lancashire Day proclamation

To the people of the city and county of the Palatine of Lancaster. Greetings!

Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and ten, the 57th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.

Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.

Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

God bless Lancashire and God save the Queen, Duke of Lancaster.