DWINDLING numbers at Darwen's top language school has caused fury among an Italian class which has been forced to carry on in Blackburn.

The Access Point and Holker House, Darwen's only adult education centres, offer a wide range of language programmes from beginners to intermediate levels.

But now attendances are so low, managers are having to cancel courses.

Anne Bingham, a 20-year Italian and French lecturer and Access Point teacher, said: "People don't want to study any more after a day's work. They have pubs, clubs and gyms and there's a certain amount of apathy towards language study.

"Years ago we used to attract 30 people but now we're lucky if we get half that."

The government-funded centres can no longer afford to run classes for fewer than ten people, forcing people to take up places in Blackburn, the closest alternative. The five-strong Italian beginners class, which embarked on a 12-month course in September, was outraged to hear that the intermediate class would not be going on next year, despite the course being put on for the past ten years.

Lynn Schofield, a pupil from Pothouse Lane, Darwen, said: "We want these classes not just for us but for the community as a whole. We don't want to go into Blackburn. The Access Point is accessible and there's easy parking here."

None of the six would be prepared to travel to Blackburn if the ABC Languages course folds in Darwen.

Mary Hayler, a student from Harbour Lane, Edgworth, said: "It would be too far and the class would finish at 9pm on the Thursday and you don't want to be travelling all that way at that time. There's one lady in the class who doesn't drive."

Meryl Jolly, college co-ordinator, said: "We would love to be able to provide courses for small numbers but it's not financially possible. The beginners course started with ten people and that's why we could get it going. We would need at least twelve for the intermediate class.

"People travel from all over to get to the Blackburn College course and they will have between 15 and 20 people starting the intermediate class each year."

The course would cost the government around £4,500 and with the money paid in stages, less than one-third of the money was paid to the college because five people dropped out before February, leaving the course underfunded.

Coun Paul Browne said: "People in Darwen don't know what they've got until it has gone and I'd encourage more people to come forward."

For more information about courses at the college, contact 01254 706555 for Holker House or 01254 760681 for the Access Point.