DARWEN people were today promised a big party to celebrate their most cherished landmark after a low-key reopening ceremony was criticised.

Coun Karimeh Foster, who represents Whitehall ward, said she was unhappy only a small number of dignitaries were invited to the official ceremony for Darwen Tower on Monday. She felt more of the community should have been involved.

But Peter Hunt, director of direct services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said the event was just to reinforce to the public that the tower was open again. And he revealed the council had spent the last few months organising a big party for May 31 which will see Bill Whalley, the grandson of the builder who constructed the tower, being flown over from America.

Mr Whalley will be presented with a plaque from the Friends of Sunnyhurst Woods during a day of celebrations for dignitaries and members of the public.

Mr Hunt said: "At the moment we are in contact with Bill and we are going to meet him on May 30, and he will stay until June 2. We will be having a big 'do' with a ceremony and celebration for the public. Karimeh will be invited."

Thousands of pounds have been spent by the council on restoring the tower, built for Queen Victoria's jubilee, to its former glory in an attempt to bring more tourists into the area.

Coun Foster was also invited to the opening but was unable to attend after the original day for the event was moved.

She said: "I am very disappointed that I could not attend but I am more upset that the public were not more involved. The youngsters from local schools especially should have been involved.

"They need to be more involved in things like this if we expect them to take an interest in the future.

"Darwen Tower is a great monument and its reopening is a very important occasion which shouldn't have been reserved for just a couple of people."