A CHARITY bonfire night which raised nearly £6,000 last year is under threat because of the firefighters' strike.

The organisers of the annual event at Witton Park, in Blackburn, on Sunday November 2 fear they will have to cancel because they won't be able get insurance due to the strike.

The bonfire coincides with a 48-hour strike running from 9am on November 2 to 9am on Tuesday November 4.

Heather Schofield, chairman of Blackburn Rotaract Club, said: "We've planned this since January this year, we're still in shock really, I can't tell you how disappointed we are."

The organisers have already raised £500 from 12 Blackburn businesses with £300 more to come and been donated the wood and pallets for the fire.

The event, if it goes ahead, will have a bonfire 60ft high and 40ft wide, a spectacular 20 minute fire-work display costing £3,000, a huge fun fair and catering vans.

Proceeds will go towards the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Magic Eye Appeal, which aims to raise £200,000 for a state-of-the-art ultrasound endoscopic scanner.

The equipment will benefit the whole of East Lancashire by offering quicker and less traumatic diagnosis of stomach and oesophagus cancer.

Sheila Shaw, Magic Eye Appeal Coordinator, said: " If the bonfire should be cancelled it will be very disappointing indeed for the members of Rotaract who have put in such a lot of time and energy over the past months in planning for the event.

"Safety comes first at all times but as a fun event with the potential of raising funds for a good cause the Rotaract bonfire event can't be beaten.

"I do hope that the dispute can be resolved to enable Rotaract members to continue with their plans."

Station Officer Andrew Barnes, of Blackburn Fire Station, said: "Things like public safety are of my primary concern, nobody in the fire service wants to strike.

"If the organisers want to contact me at the fire station to discuss the event, they can do. I will do all that I can to help."