WHEN does it start? Where are the witches' graves? The questions regularly fielded by police during Hallowe'en duty on Pendle Hill highlight one of the annual event's major problems.

People expecting to be greeted by an entertainment jamboree on the spookiest night of the year reach the top to be greeted by....well, nothing much.

Is it any wonder one group of 15 revellers decided to get drunk on Saturday night - sparking a major alert when they were unable to find their way down.

And boredom could also be the reason why a group of yobs starting throwing fireworks at a mountain rescue team and their search dog.

Insp Bob Ford from Clitheroe police said: "There were literally thousands of people there from all over the North West. But the needs and expectations of tourists are not being met.

"There is a massive opening for someone to make a fortune if they organised something properly."

Now Pendle county councillor David Whipp and local businesses are calling for action. He said: "I think there is something we could tap into."

The Pendle witches' story has it that in 1612, a young pedlar was paralysed by a beggar-girl with a curse - leading to tales of ghostly-goings on and witchcraft.

Councils have to weigh up the benefits of an organised event to celebrate Hallowe'en against the disruption to villagers.

To date attentions have been focused on a range of smaller, uncoordinated activities including day-time lantern making, ghost walks and treasure trails.

Lancashire and Blackpool tourist board's chief executive Mike Wilkinson said the responsibility of organising a more specific event rests with borough councils or local groups.

But Jane Sylvester, tourism officer at Ribble Valley Council, said: "There simply isn't the infrastructure in the villages to support a more organised event."

Mike Williams, tourist officer for Pendle Council, said: "It's a possible idea but our main problem is the fact that we are only a small council with limited resources in terms of team and finance. "

Mike Murray, chairman of Business Link, which supports small businesses, added: "Anything which generates business opportunities in rural areas needs to be seized as long as it is properly organised."

Public houses in the area had a record year with none of the trouble associated with Hallowe'en falling on a week night. The Pendle Witch in Whalley Road had to close its doors to tourists last year to control the crowds.

Licensee Tony Burbridge added: "It seems that Hallowe'en is now getting as big as Easter, especially for us in Pendle, but more needs to be done to organise an event for the North West."

Manager at Wellsprings hotel near the top of Pendle Hill, Catherine Marhraoui, added: "There were lots of families around wanting to get involved but were restricted because there was no organisation. If we could just get some street parades or make a big fuss it might deter the bad few who police warn us about each year."

But there are concerns among villagers that Sabden and Pendle could not support a timetabled event.

Graham Jagger is responsible for the annual clean-up, organising four workers and two sweepers on Pendle Hill to deal with mess left behind.

He said: "Visitors certainly cast a spell on us when it comes to the rubbish left from burger vans and drinks."

In Barley, there is one pub, a restaurant, a tea shop. Parish councillor Rosemary Connor said: "With so few facilities it is hard to see the benefit of making this a bigger event in the annual calendar."