A CHARITY which visits pupils in Lancashire, warning of the dangers of drugs, is backing the campaign to save the Witton Park bonfire after benefiting from last year's event.

Organisers are worried that this year's fire will not go ahead, prompting the Lancashire Evening Telegraph to start a campaign to raise money for it.

The Life Education Centres for Lancashire has three mobile classrooms, which go to schools across the county.

After last year's bonfire, the charity was given £1,600 by Blackburn Rotaract Club -- a donation Carol Davey, education manager for the centres, called "a huge boost."

Chairman of the bonfire committee, Geoff Moss, said: "We chose them because the charity is all about educating children about the dangers of drugs.

"Because it is all about children, we thought it would be a good community initiative to support."

Carol outlined the work of the charity: "We provide drugs education in primary schools, through our mobile classrooms.

"We have age appropriate programmes for children aged four to eleven. What we focus on can depend on the age of the children."

"The donation last year was a huge boost for us, it meant that we could extend the number pupils we could see.

"At the moment, our three vans can reach 300,000 pupils in Lancashire. The money will go towards a new van, meaning that will be increased to 400,000. As a past beneficiary of the Witton Park fire, we really appreciated what they did for us.

"We were certainly able to put the money to good use."

Lack of donations and sponsorship is threatening the future of the event, due to be held on Witton Park on Saturday, November 3.

In 1999 the event raised £4,000, but last year, despite a record turnout of 10,000 people -- the total fell to £1,600.

The total cost of running the event, which includes a £3,500 fireworks display, could be in excess of £6,000 this year and organisers have said they will cancel it rather than go into the red.

In the past the event, organised by Rotaract and Rotary clubs in Blackburn, has raised money for Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Marie Curie Cancer Care, the East Lancs Hospice, Derian House and the RSPCA.

Carol wants to encourage local businesses to support the Blackburn Rotaract Club. She said: "If local businesses could come on board and sponsor it prior to the event, that would mean that every single penny raised on the night would go to a local charity.

"It also means that more money than ever before would be raised for an event that has the potential to be an exceptional fund-raiser." Donations to the cost of the Witton Park bonfire can be made using our coupon. Send by post or call in at any of our offices.

In addition, messages, ideas and contributions can also be posted on the web at let_letters@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk