THE ORGANISER of a children's talent contest which attracted complaints after the final was delayed, today insisted the show would go on.

Kath Hartley, executive co-ordinator of UK Entertainment Services, organised the contest, which cost £3.50 to enter, last summer.

A series of heats for contestants from all over East Lancashire was held at Sydney Street WMC in Accrington. But parents of the 20 finalists said they were not informed when a final would be held.

Tracy Bett, of Mona Road, Blackburn, said her daughter Carly, now 14, was angry and upset.

When she tried to contact Ms Hartley at the company's base in Eanam Wharf she was told the company had left.

Ms Hartley set up UK Entertainment Services last year to arrange corporate events for business and industry. The firm arranged venues, food and drink, presentations, music and live entertainment.

It was run by Ms Hartley and an operations manager but Ms Hartley today said the company had not been active for several months.

She said: "I am very disappointed that children have been let down but unfortunately it has been out of my control.

"There was a series of events in short succession including losing my corporate manager who moved on, moving out of the office, not being able to find a suitable venue and ill health which made it really difficult to deal with.

"But the final is going to go ahead and I will be contacting Sydney Street Club to see if they are willing to hold it.

"Obviously it would have to be in a period when the children are off school, perhaps at Easter. I am not going to let the children down and will be contacting everybody concerned before the end of March.

"Although I no longer operate from any offices the telephone number people have for me now diverts to my home address so I can still be contacted. The company will, however, cease to operate after the contest."

On hearing the news, Mrs Bett said she did not know whether Carly would still be interested in taking part.

She said: "We will have to wait and see. This should not have happened. It should have all been organised in advance."

Sydney Street WMC had agreed to offer the venue to UK Entertainment Services free of charge in return for bar profits of future events.

Brian McGeown, secretary, said: "We will have to speak with Ms Hartley. We agreed to hold auditions at the club for the sake of the children but we are not associated with the company.

"We have received criticism now because people think we have let the children down but we had nothing to do with running the competition."