PADIHAM's first mayor for 28 years will take part in the annual Trinity Sunday marches -- without his chain of office.

Coun Granville Lord and his wife Pat, his mayoress, wanted to wear their chains with pride as they join other parishioners from St John the Baptist RC Church, in St John's Road, in tomorrow's march. But there is a problem with the insurance and so he has been told it's either walk with another church or go without the chains.

Coun Lord said: "I am very sad about it. I was looking forward to walking with the parishioners of St John's -- the church where Pat and I were married -- in our mayoral chains and then joining the procession through Padiham.

"When I contacted Burnley Council to see if it was possible I was told the insurance had still to be sorted out and they would only agree if I set off with the Deputy Mayor of Burnley, Coun Lilian Clarke from St Leonard's Church.

"Since I took up office I have performed a darts presentation without the chains and this would have been the first time Pat and myself would have been seen in the town on an official engagement.

"It has been marred. For the first time in 28 years we have a Padiham mayor in the parade and I can't wear the chain.

"The only way I can is if I walk with a different church and I have the greatest respect for St Leonard's and the parishioners are really great but it is not our church."

The march usually attracts nearly 1,000 people from all the churches in the town young and old, uniformed movements and church rose queens and their entourages.

Hundreds line the streets to watch the parade and usually it attracts good weather.

Burnley Council's support services manager Ian Wolstencroft said: "The situation is that Padiham Town Council is in the process of making new insurance arrangements for the chains and in the meantime they are insured through Burnley Council's insurance policy. That policy states at all times there has to be an officer from the council with the chains."

He said the Mayor's attendant David Farrer would be with the Burnley Mayoral chains which is why the council had stipulated Coun Lord and his wife must walk from St Leonard's.

Mr Wolstencroft said: "Because Coun Lord and his wife want to walk with their church we would not be complying with the insurance policy requirements. It may seem to be pedantic but we have to ensure these arrangements are met."

He added the insurance was being sorted out and he hoped new arrangements would be in place soon.