BURNLEY people were today urged to go on to the streets and celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee next year -- despite a neighbouring authority suggesting parties should be avoided.

Burnley Council leader Stuart Caddy said the event was a time for the nation to celebrate with the great British tradition of a street party and said he was "surprised" by Hyndburn's decision to urge people to attend council events instead of neighbourhood gatherings.

He said: "We don't have anything against people celebrating.

"We haven't discussed the celebrations yet, but we will have a report at our next executive meeting."

Earlier this week members of Rossendale Council's leisure and economic development committee discussed the planning of the jubilee celebrations.

Members were invited to "draw upon the good will and enthusiasm of existing groups and invite them to run street or garden party workshops in the week leading up to the event."

But council bosses in Hyndburn were today accused of being 'spoilsports' after suggesting street parties to mark the jubilee should be avoided.

Hyndburn chiefs want people to celebrate the Queen's reign at council-run events in parks instead of at traditional street gatherings.

The move has met with an anger from a residents' association who say officials are acting like "spoilsports and party-poopers".

Hyndburn area council co-ordinator Steve Watson, said conditions had changed since the Queen's Silver Jubilee of 1977.

He said there was now a greater amount of traffic which made the roads more dangerous and the cost of obtaining a street closure order was now £268.

Closed off streets, he argued, would also make it more difficult for emergency vehicles to gain access to people who need help.

He said: "We just want to send out a warning to local people that the situation is different from 1977. We're not saying road closures are out. We're just looking at other ways of celebrating. The leisure services department has agreed to look at our parks as a place to hold parties and we will look upon them favourably.

"A street party is a wonderful way of celebrating the jubilee but we don't want to block access to emergency vehicles. We want people to think about how they can maintain safety. There are a lot more people with cars now than there were 25 years ago."

But chairman of newly-formed Rishton Gardener's Residents Association Jackie Waring reacted angrily to the possible threat.

She said: "We don't even have any parks so where are we supposed to have our celebration? They're just being spoilsports and acting like party-poopers.

"It's not something that happens very often, only once every 25 years, and it's a great way of bringing the community together.

"The council will have to rethink its ideas and listen to people's opinions before they say things like this.

"In 1977 there was a good community spirit and we had a party near to my home on Burton Street. It was very well attended by families and it showed what a great British institution the street party is."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe added: "We have a jubilee committee which is looking at plans to celebrate the golden jubilee.

"One of our ideas is to open up the parks and we are looking at various types of entertainment.

"There is no intention to prohibit street parties and I would be looking at ways to help enable street parties if residents wanted them. But the world is a different place from 1977 and it is more difficult to have a party in a safe environment.

"I'm not sad about about it. The fact there are more cars on our roads is what I call progress."