A HUGE charity gala has been axed for the first time in its 28-year history.

The Blackburn Lions Gala held at Witton Park, which annually benefits numerous local charities and was set to take place on August 9 and 10, has been cancelled because of a lack of business sponsorship and dwindling gates.

But the group says it should be back next year.

Increasing health and safety costs and rival summer events, such as the free Arts in the Park and Blackburn Mela, have also been blamed for the decision which the Blackburn Lions board has taken.

Its cancellation has brought disappointment for a number of charities who have benefited from money raised by the event in the past.

Gala chairman Graham Threlfall said that the event may benefit from 12 months off and suggested the event could take place on a bi-annual basis rather than annually.

Mr Threlfall added that electrical wiring used to provide electricity for the marquees was in need of replacement under health and safety guidelines and that would cost £6,000 alone -- money which the Lions did not have.

Last year the event raised £4,000 for charities.

A decade ago the event was attracting between 15,000 and 20,000 over the weekend.

Yet, this year if it had taken place, it is expected it would have attracted just 7,000.

Mr Threlfall said: "The decision has regrettably been taken not to hold the event this year.

"Sponsorship from businesses is increasingly hard to get nowadays. The acts that we get in have to be paid by sponsorship, but that simply has not been forthcoming.

"The event needs a lot of planning and hard work and to end up with only £4,000 last year was very disappointing.

"We can do a lot of other things and raise that amount of money a lot easier.

"We thought we would give it a miss this year and make it a once every two-year event. That would make it easier to get sponsorship.

"Blackburn now has Arts in the Park and the Asian Mela around about the same time. These are free events but we have to charge people to come to the Witton Park gala."

Father Jim McCartney, who runs THOMAS, a charity for people at the margins of society which had received money from the gala in the past.

He said: "The news the gala has been cancelled this year is disappointing.

"Charities do rely heavily on donations from organisations like the Lions.

"Its a sad reflection on the business community if they are not willing to sponsor it this year."