BLACKBURN'S Mela and Arts in the Park events were axed because they had "run their course" and become "little more than booze ups", a ruling councillor said.

But opposition politicians denied this and said that the replacement - a combined one-off town centre festival - would turn into a "pub crawl".

The matter was discussed at a council meeting called by Labour tonight in which tempers flared as opposition councillors clashed with Blackburn with Darwen's ruling Conservative, Liberal Democrat and For Darwen coalition at Blackburn town hall.

Labour put forward a motion urging the coalition to re-think the plans, which were given the green light by the council's executive board earlier this month, to create a "community arts festival" over the August bank holiday.

A vote at the end of the meeting saw the motion defeated by 30 votes to 28.

Opponents have raised safety fears, and claim there was not enough consultation.

But Coun Michael Law Riding, the council's executive member for leisure and culture, told the meeting: "At first these festivals were family friendly. They have now run their course and unfortunately they have become little more than booze ups."

He said this was because people could take as much alcohol as they liked to the Mela and Arts in the Park, held in Witton Park, but this could be controlled in the town centre.

Beforehand, members of the borough's ruling coalition handed out leaflets calling on Labour members to repay the cost - between £1,000 and £3,200 - of staging the extraordinary meeting, thought to be the first of its kind for at least 10 years.

But Labour councillor Dave Harling said all councillors needed the chance to debate the plans.

He said: "You are getting rid of two fantastic festivals, and replacing them with a half-baked proposal."

Labour leader Kate Hollern, who has claimed the event would turn into a "pub crawl", said holding the event in the town centre would "stretch the police to the limits."

And Coun Naushad Surve, part of the Mela organising committee, announced he had collected 600 signatures on a petition protesting against the plans.

But Lib Dem Paul Browne told the Labour group: "You are telling the people of this proud borough they are a load of drunks, that people will come into the town centre and all be drunk. What a load of nonsense."

Ruling councillors have however referred the plans to be examined by a council scrutiny' committee, which will report back to the executive board.