HEALTH officials have slammed Blackburn Lions over plans for a charity boxing match in aid of the North West Air Ambulance.

Director of Public Health for Blackburn with Darwen, Dr Jim Paris, led the protests and said it was inappropriate to use a "blatantly dangerous" sport to raise money for a life-saving piece of equipment.

He was backed by Hyndburn MP Greg Pope, who said the event was "wildly inappropriate" and demanded that the government find the cash to pay for the NWAA helicopter.

But the Lions have hit back and claimed groups organising charity events were being thwarted by restrictions out of proportion with the risks involved.

Today, assistant chief executive for the NWAA, Jackie Northover, said: "It's a very difficult situation. While I understand there's a chance that boxing could be damaging to people's health, if it wasn't for the wonderful organisations like the Lions raising money for us, we would not have the air ambulance and be able to save lives."

The amateur boxing show, at King George's Hall on March 7, will have bouts featuring boxers from Blackburn, Accrington, Yorkshire and Wales.

The Lions organised the event as an alternative fund-raiser to their annual gala, which was cancelled because of a lack of business sponsorship, dwindling attendances and health and safety restrictions. They are hoping to raise between £2,000 and £5,000 for the North West Air Ambulance, which relies on donations to cover running costs, and other charities.

But Dr Paris said: "I hope that those who perform on the night do not end up requiring the very Air Ambulance they are raising money for.

"I'm not saying the event should be cancelled but I would question the appropriateness of raising money for a health related charity when boxing is blatantly damaging to health."

Dr Paris' colleague Dr Gifford Kerr, Public Health Consultant for Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, said: "None of the improved safety measures at boxing matches, introduced over the last 10 to 20 years, have had any significant impact on the brain injury and eye damage that occurs."

Lions spokesman Harry Pennington said the organising committee debated the 'rights and wrongs' of boxing before deciding to go ahead.

He said: "Amateur boxing is a well regulated and controlled sport with a wide following in the UK and abroad.

"In planning this event, Blackburn Lions have gone to considerable trouble to ensure that it is properly run under the auspices of the Amateur Boxing Association with all relevant safety precautions in place.

"We, along with other community support organisations, are encountering increasingly onerous hurdles to overcome as we plan our fundraising events. These seem to be out of proportion to any risks involved. Our cancellation of the Gala at Witton Park is one such casualty.

"I hope and pray that this trend does not continue to the point where we live in a sterile world with little excitement and no one prepared to organise events for fear of being sued."

Mr Pope said: "Firstly, I think that the NHS should be funding the air ambulance. I have raised this with the Department of Health before and I will be raising it again.

"Having said that, I think it is wildly inappropriate to use a boxing night to raise money for an air ambulance."