COUNCIL chiefs will tonight decide the fate of a residents' association, temporarily suspended over alleged financial irregularities.

But its members are already resigned to defeat, fearing the meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Council executive committee will spell the end of an era.

The council-funded Bank Top Community Association was temporarily dissolved in November by the local authority while an independent investigation was carried out. It followed an initial inquiry by council auditors which centred on the association's summer gala last year.

It is understood that the association was temporarily dissolved when three officers were asked to resign and refused.

One of them, vice-chairman Eddie Duxbury said: "It was only to be a temporary suspension but it has been 12 weeks and I can't see the association being reinstated. It's the end of an era. It's not a case of conceding defeat, it's being practical."

Former council employee Eddie, aged 71, a volunteer for various residents' associations for 30 years, vowed that if the association was terminated, residents would still have a voice. But he would play no part.

The association, one of 18 in Blackburn and Darwen eligible for council funding and scrutinised by the authority, is the only one to have its own housing sub- committee. It has been vocal on a number of issues which affect the 40,000 residents.

Ward councillor Don Rishton said: "We are a leading and highly respected community association within the borough and our only crime has been to fight the council and Twin Valley Homes on many issues for residents of Bank Top. We have become a pain in the backside and they want rid of us."