ORGANISERS of a controversial fundraising calendar were shocked when the charity receiving the proceeds refused to publicly accept the cheque.

Calendar organisers, Jennifer Purcell and Dianne Hodkinson, turned up at Frank Street Old Aged Pensioners' Centre, Barnoldswick to formally hand over the £2,700.

But they left it on a table and walked out after receiving a "frosty" reception from the chairman and secretary of the club, Connie Pickles and Mary Town.

Jennifer and Dianne battled to publish the calendar, featuring Sita recycling plant workers from Barnoldswick, Padiham, Great Harwood and Burnley, after Lancashire County Council refused to back the venture to protect its "name and reputation".

They said that after collecting all the money they wanted to surprise the old folk with the final cheque and turned up unannounced on the centre's bingo night.

Jennifer said: "The first thing someone said to us was 'you can't come in here, we're playing bingo'. Then the chairman and secretary refused to take the cheque.

"There are lots of charities out there that would be grateful for an amount like this. To throw it back at us is a real slap in the face."

Secretary Mary Town said they were upset at being left out of the fundraising effort.

She said: "We weren't involved with this calendar at all. We weren't given any to sell, our pensioners were asking for them but we didn't have any.

"Then they just turn up unannounced, barged in with a photographer and tried to hand the cheque over.

"We are not saying that we are not thankful, but it is the way that it has been done.

"They will get a thank you letter from me but then that will be the end of it as far as I am concerned."