A MAYOR fears an annual charity fund-raiser could suffer after councillors cancelled a booking in the wake of a town hall row.

A group of councillors have pulled out of the ball organised to raise cash for children's charities in Blackburn and Darwen.

The cancellation came after the borough's mayor, Coun Peter Greenwood, claimed town hall decisions were taken by a small group of councillors.

The comments, reported in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, met with an angry response from some leading Labour councillors.

A group of councillors and guests led by social services chairman Sue Reid then cancelled a dozen tickets at £15 a time that had been booked for the event at King George's Hall.

Coun Greenwood confirmed a group from Darwen sent a fax to the town hall saying they would feel uncomfortable attending the event.

Coun Greenwood said: "I can't see how attending a charity event has anything to to do with politics.

"The mayor's ball is a charity event and it seems a shame to bring politics into it, the only ones to suffer as a result of this are the charities we are supporting." Coun Greenwood added: "I have always believed that power on councils is concentrated in too few hands. That has always been my point of view and I am not prepared to retract anything I said. But it would be a shame if all the councillors decided not to support the event and no one turned up."

Coun Reid said: "I will not be attending this year because I have better things to be doing on that evening.

"I am not going to comment further than that, I can see no reason why I should talk about my private life to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph."

Eileen Entwistle, leisure, sports and cultural services chairman, was also due to attend the event and was a member of the party which cancelled.

She said: "I accept that as a councillor I am accountable to the public, but what I do in my spare time is my own business. I have gone to the mayor's ball in the past and on occasions I have not attended.

"I am not accountable to the mayor or the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about what I do in my spare time."

Coun Derek Brindle, another member of the party, refused to comment.

Malcolm Doherty, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, denied there was a split in the ruling Labour group.

He said: "I will be attending the ball with my wife along with other members of the group.

"We are rapidly approaching April when Blackburn with Darwen Council becomes a unitary council and the Labour group is extremely busy.

"If Labour councillors feel they are unable to attend the mayor's ball that is entirely a matter for them."

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