THE president of Darwen Royal British Legion has slammed organisers of an armed forces day celebration in Blackburn.

Brian Thompson said he was only invited as an “after-thought” just days before the prestigious flag unveiling event at Blackburn Town Hall on Monday.

Mr Thompson said the lateness of the invitation meant just four members of the group could attend, along with dignitaries including Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Coun James Hirst and the county’s deputy lieutenant Sir Bernard de Hoghton.

The four old comrades from Darwen were also forced to turn up without their colours because their standard bearer was unavailable at such short notice.

Mr Thompson said: “I didn’t find out about it until Friday lunchtime and the event was on Monday morning.

“That is just not acceptable for such a major event, which coincided with other flag days across the country.

“We didn’t mind travelling to Blackburn because after all it is supposed to be Blackburn with Darwen.

“We managed to get four members down there but it wasn’t right.

"We didn’t even have our standard bearer.

“This event was not organised at the last minute, so why were we only told so late on?”

Over 450 councils across the country and over 2,000 members of the public, businesses and schools took part in flag raising ceremonies on Monday in the run-up to Britain's first-ever Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

Mr Thompson said the incident only reinforced his feeling that Darwen is ignored by those in Blackburn.

He added: “Darwen heritage is very much neglected. Our RBL was formed 23 years before the Blackburn branch in 1921.

“Even the bus shelters have the Blackburn crest on them in Darwen.

“Perhaps now we’ve got our own town council things might change a little.”