A MAYOR today revealed his annual ball could be under threat unless vital work can be done to his borough's last remaining leisure hall.

The news comes after the Astoria Ballroom, where the Rossendale event is traditionally held, closed its doors to the public on New Year's Eve as a cost-cutting measure.

The Mayor Coun Jimmy Eaton has since found Bacup Leisure Hall to be a suitable venue, providing that his requests to improve the hall are met.

Council leader Graham o said the authority is considering the Mayor's proposals and has assigned a buildings surveyor to find some prices.

The Mayor, who represents Weir, fears the hall will not to be big enough for the 300 people who are booked in to attend the event.

And he said it would be his "worst nightmare" if he had to cancel the event, which usually raises thousands of pounds for charity.

The ball is due to be held on March 21 and already around 40 mayors and mayoresses from around the country have confirmed their attendance.

At the moment the leisure hall will only hold around 250, but could hold more if the council agrees to make £5,000 worth of alterations to the venue. Coun Eaton is determined to keep the venue in the valley. He added: "There wouldn't be any point holding it anywhere else because a lot of people wouldn't want to travel.

"It would be very sad if we couldn't hold it in the valley so I am going to make it my business to find somewhere so I won't have to let people down."

Coun Eaton wants the council to remove the partitions which divide the hall because it segregates people and put up new wallpaper inside the hall.

Coun Pearson said: "We are going to do our best but at the end of the financial year there is not a lot left in the pot to be able to find such a large amount of money.

"If we can't find the money then I am afraid the mayor will not get what he wants. I asked him if he would like to put forward a contribution from his mayor's fund which he declined."

The Mayor now faces a nail biting wait for the council to reach a final decision on Friday.