A CAMPAIGN is underway to find a new venue for Accrington fair now that a permanent entertainment centre is being built on the usual fair ground site.

This may mean the fair has to be cancelled this year if an alternative venue is not found in time but council bosses have vowed the show will go on.

The fair has set up on land off Moreton Street for more than five years but that site is now home to the £2million project which will comprise a four-screen, 800-seat cinema, 20-lane bowling alley and a McDonald's drive-through restaurant.

Prior to that location the Michael Wallis Funfair, from Littleborough, was held twice yearly at a site off Charter Street before that was developed for new housing.

Nigel Rix, director of regeneration, said: "The more development there is in the town the more the options for a fairground site decrease.

"It has been suggested to have a fair in the town centre such as in front of the town hall but we are looking at various sites and the choice of site is crucial.

" And we want to be careful to avoid disturbance to local residents." At a town centre regeneration board meeting Peter Britcliffe, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: "It would be interesting to know people's views on a new location.

"If it was to be outside the town hall it would have to be ruled out until after the market development but in the future it could bring more people into the centre."

The other main area which has been discussed is around St James Square. This would involve setting up on the three car parks off Paradise Street, St James Street and Eagle Street as well as putting lighter side shows on the square itself.

This location is currently being discussed with Michael Wallis Funfair and officials in terms of how appropriate it would be to separate the fair's attractions and what problems would be caused by reducing the town's parking facilities.

Other options which were suggested at the meeting for a new location included the car park on Dowry Street and the Netto site off Eastgate.

The week-long fair is usually held in March and September and attracts thousands of youngsters.

The matter is set to be discussed at the next Accrington town centre regeneration board meeting.