A REMEMBRANCE event has been cancelled through lack of interest.

The Poppy Ball, held for the past eight years at the Muni, Colne, and organised by the town's Royal British Legion Club, was axed after just a fraction of the tickets were sold.

In previous years, the ball has attracted more than 150 people and raised hundreds of pounds for the Poppy Appeal, but only 65 tickets were sold for this year's event on November 3.

Organisers said they had to cancel, or risk losing money.

Brian Bannister, who has led the ball for the past six years, said it had been very popular in the past, and that club members were scratching their heads over why the 2007 event had failed.

He said: "I don't know what's caused it. We haven't changed anything.

"We were planning dancing, a cabaret and a buffet; the same as we have had before, and there's been exactly the same amount of publicity.

"In other years we have had no problems. People were ringing for tickets and making a real effort to be there, but that just hasn't happened this time.

"We will still be doing the Remembrance Day parade with the dinner afterwards, as well as the collections.

"I hope people will still give to the appeal. We usually raise in excess of £8,000 and we will be doing everything we can to get that much money together again.

"We're hoping this is just a blip and we can put the ball on again next year."

John Chapman, secretary of the Duke of Lancaster's Regimental Association in Burnley and Pendle, said it was sad that the event had to be cancelled, but said donations in the annual Poppy Appeal were increasing every year.

Council leader Alan Davies said: "The ball always raises a lot of money for the Royal British Legion but hopefully it will be back on next year."