A GOVERNMENT inspector says hotel bosses must take down a marquee used for wedding receptions.

Inspector Roger Dyer backed Rossendale Council's decision to order the removal of the marquee at Horncliffe House on Bury Road, Rawtenstall.

But Mr Dyer is allowing hotel owner Jane Taylor a year's stay of execution. Rossendale Council wanted the marquee removed in 28 days.

Mrs Taylor appealed against the council decision and pointed out that the marquee was fully booked with wedding receptions up to the end of next year and was the only place in Rossendale capable of holding 200 people sitting down.

But planning officers objected because Horncliffe House is a grade two listed building in a green belt area and they felt the marquee detracted from the appearance of the building. Families living on Bury Road and nearby Crow Woods complained about noise from the marquee and planners said moving the structure to another part of the grounds would not have much effect.

Horncliffe House was owned by Lancashire County Council until 1993 and run as an old people's hone. It was converted into a hotel in 1995.

In his ruling, Mr Dyer said the marquee was "a large object with white canvas walls and roof" which seriously harmed the green belt.

He added that the harm to the setting of the listed building was significant, because the marquee is close to the main house and on land raised above the level of the main gardens.

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