MORE large-scale public events are set to be staged in Pendle's parks after council chiefs applied to hold performances all year round.

Pendle Council's parks department has applied for a five premises licences which would last all year and allow events to be held more regularly.

Currently the council has to apply for a licence each time it holds an event featuring live music, theatre or dance performances.

Now, in a bid to attract more visitors to the borough's beauty spots, council bosses want to do away with the red tape.

If passed the permits would cover Marsden Park, Walverden Park, and Victoria Park, all Nelson, as well as Alkincoates Park, Colne, and Victory Park, Barnoldswick.

Julie Hibbert, the council's park outreach officer, said the authority had launched a new parks team which wanted to start laying on more events to get people visiting the borough's attractions.

She said: "Everytime we held an event we had to apply for a licence. We want to attract more people and hold more events so this will help us to do that.

"It will be the first time we have been able to deliver a comprehensive events programme."

The licences would last for 12 months and cost £100. Councillors are expected to grant them by the end of the month.

They would be intended to allow events which would attract more than 100 people to be held.

Existing attractions for which the council has to apply for a temporary licence include the Firework Fantasia in Barnoldswick and brass band concerts in Alkincoates Park.

The new licence would also allow for goods including food and drink to be sold, but it is not intended to have alcohol at events.

Mrs Hibbert added: "We do not want to look at the sale of alcohol because that might cause some problems."