A GROUP which promotes trade in Darwen has been forced to hold a fundraising event in Bolton because there was no local venue big enough.

Franky's Bar in Church Street was booked months in advance for Darwen Reloaded but will not be ready by the night of Saturday September 22 because of delays in refurbishments.

So Darwen Chamber of Trade has booked the De Vere White's Hotel at the Reebok Stadium.

Darwen is the second biggest supporter in the North West of the Five Stars Scanner Appeal to fund a new £1million scanner for the Manchester Children's Hospital and Darweners were keen to keep the event close to home.

But Andrew McAllister, president of the new Chamber of Trade, said despite an exhaustive search only the De Vere was both big enough and available.

He said: "Franky's Bar will hold 500 people when it's finished and it would have been ideal to have it in Darwen.

"We had our last event in Ewood Park and we would have booked it there this time but it was busy. We phoned every venue in the area that we could think."

The event will be twice as big as last year's Darwen Night at the Oscars with 300 tickets on sale. A bus link will be laid on from Darwen.

Traders began to support the appeal in 2006 after meeting Madison Allan from Lord's Crescent, Lower Darwen, who has a tumour and would be helped by the new scanner.

It was feared the youngster may not have reached two years old but she attended the Oscars event held on her second birthday and will celebrate her third birthday at Darwen Reloaded.

A supporting cast of celebrities will attend including former Coronation Street stars Shobna Gulati and Scott Wright, TV presenter Craig Stevens, Manchester's King of Swing' Cole Page, Heather Peace from The Chase and London's Burning.

A Ladies Extravaganza Evening held in Darwen in July raised over £5,000 for the appeal, meaning the target of raising £10,000 this year in Darwen will be reached if all tickets are sold for Darwen Reloaded.

Tickets at £45 for the black- tie event include a four- course meal and are available on 775575, 07709 556478, 773555 and 07918 182044.