A CONTROVERSIAL fund-raising event criticised for being 'wildly inappropriate' is set to return to Blackburn.

Last year Blackburn Lions raised £3,000 for the North West Air Ambulance with a charity boxing match at King George's Hall.

But health officials and MPs said it was inappropriate to use a 'blatantly dangerous' sport to raise money for life-saving equipment.

Despite protests led by Dr Jim Paris, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen, colleague Dr Gifford Kerr, and Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, organisers say the event was a huge success and tickets are now on sale for a repeat performance.

But Dr Kerr, public health consultant for Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, said today he still had concerns about the method of fund-raising.

He said: "They say last year passed without incident, but boxing has cumulative effects which can cause brain damage over a number of years, even though there is no obvious effect at the time of the blow to the head.

"There is an irony to the method of raising money for the air ambulance which is used for acute neuro surgical emergencies.

"There must be better ways of raising money with a sporting nature, such as by encouraging people to do a sponsored walk, or jog, which has positive health benefits."

Prior to last year's event Jackie Northover, assistant chief executive of the NWAA, described the situation as difficult.

She said while she understood boxing could be damaging to health, the air ambulance could not operate without groups such as the Lions raising money to help save lives.

Harry Pennington, spokesman for Blackburn Lions, said: "Last year was a huge success and we want this to become an annual event and get bigger and bigger. In a way the controversy helped us because it raised the profile of the event, and there was a great atmosphere on the night. The event is properly run under the amateur boxing association and there are qualified medical people in attendance. If there was ever a remote sign of trouble it would be stopped."

The event will be on Friday, March 5, with around 10 bouts of amateur boxing. Tickets are available from King George's Hall, or by calling Mr Pennington on 01254 694888. The bulk of the proceeds will go to the North West Air Ambulance, although a small amount will be kept for local people in need.