AN international motor bike show could be staged in Rossendale in two years' time.

The World Governing Body of Motor Cycle Sport wants to stage its annual Motorcamp in the Valley in 1999. The event takes place in a different European country every year and Rossendale has been chosen because of the success of the annual Rossendale Bike Show, which this year attracted 25,000 visitors.

Valley show organiser Tony Winder, said: "This will really put Rossendale well and truly on the European map."

The prestigious Motorcamp attracts 500 bikers and is the premier European event of its type.

This year's Rossendale show raised £20,447. After deductions for expenses, organisers have a surplus of £7,078, some to be shared among local charities and the rest to be held in reserve for next year's show. Now, organisers are asking Rossendale Council to waive some of their charges for helping stage the event. This year organisers paid the council £1,347 towards costs such as litter clearing, contributed £3,300 to the cost of resurfacing footpaths in Whitaker Park and still owe £450 for the cost of road closures.

They point out that the show is attracting to the Valley people who had never heard of Rossendale before and is now one of the most important motorcycling events in the country.

The show as featured on Sky television this year and had its own Internet website.

A survey among the 25,000 visitors suggested 96 per cent of people enjoyed the show, 79 per cent said they would come back to Rossendale and 42 per cent had travelled more than 25 miles to get to the show.

A decision is expected at Monday's meeting of the council's Policy Committee.

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