CARNIVAL organisers have slammed local people who refuse to help with the organisation of the annual event.

Rossendale Leisure chairman Coun Lawrence Forshaw accused Bacup people of apathy and laziness when it came to giving up their time for the carnival.

He said: "I went to a meeting in Bacup to discuss arrangements for the carnival and there wasn't a single local person there."

The annual carnival is called Rossendale Carnival but takes place solely in Bacup. This year 30 floats and individual entrants are expected to join in the parade on Sunday, June 21.

The Friends of Bocholt, Rawtenstall Market, Boots, Bacup Amateurs and Ski Rossendale are among organisations who have promised floats.

This year the Carnival is being organised by Mid-Pennine Arts but Counc Forshaw described the task as "onerous" and said he would gladly hand it over to the Lions, Rotary or any organisation which felt it could galvanise local people.

Bacup Coun Susan Baron "People would be very disappointed if the carnival was cancelled but they don't want anything to do with the organisation. It's something we've got to get over and I don't know how we do that."

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