A SPECIAL Christmas present was handed over to people who need extra help getting about - amid claims of a political snub.

Two new specially-adapted mini-buses were presented to staff of Pendle Community Transport yesterday at a ceremony held at the Fence Gate Inn, Fence, near Nelson.

Father Christmas helped County Councillor Bob Clark hand over the custom-built vehicles which will be used on a Dial-A-Bus service for the disabled and other people who find it hard to get about.

But, after a wait of almost two years for the buses to arrive, local Liberal councillors said they were snubbed when it came to the hand-over.

Pendle Labour county councillors Joe French and Tim Ormrod were invited to the presentation along with officials from county and Pendle. But no Liberal county councillor or any other Pendle councillor was invited. "This is a clear snub and typical of the arrogant Labour leadership of Lancashire County Council," said Liberal councillor Tony Greaves.

"These people are rather pathetic. It is all because of the constant pressure and criticism over this issue by Pendle Liberal councillors such as Doris Allen over the past two years.

"Without the efforts from Doris and others we would not have seen these minibuses this year."

Coun Allen said it was wonderful that the long-awaited buses had finally arrived. and added that she would ignore the fact she had not been invited to the ceremony.

"We when first heard about their rudeness we were quite angry," she said. "But I am still far more concerned about the long delays in delivery of these vehicles and the amount of money that the county council has forced us to waste in maintaining clapped out old vehicles while we were waiting for them to sort out the paperwork on their desks."

Coun Clark said: "These customised and very special vehicles have cost around £90,000 and are clear evidence of the county council's commitment to the Dial-A-Bus service in Burnley and Pendle."

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