AN event organiser was left disappointed after hundreds of people failed to attend a community fundraiser after a mix up with a cancelled event.

Clive Williamson, event organiser at Bacup Hub, on Burnley Road, Bacup, was expecting around 300 people to his ‘Rock Concert’ event planned to raise money for a community play centre inside The Hub which will be open to children.

Despite weeks of hard work getting the centre ready, only 100 people turned up on Saturday after several Facebook messages were posted saying the event was cancelled.

Mr Williamson said: “From what we have gathered people have got confused with the cancelled Rossendale Bike Show also planned for the Bank Holiday weekend.

“Word was spread via Facebook and people stayed away.

“I also heard that the police were stopping bikers heading through Rossendale and telling them the event was off.

"I think there has been crossed wires. People have obviously assumed we were one in the same event as we both wanted to attract bikers. In the end we had just over 100 people.

“Its a real shame for Rossendale, it would have been nice if the police had told the people heading to Rawtenstall about our event so we could have raised more money for our community play centre.”

The second Rawtenstall custom and classic motorcycle show was due to take place over the Bank Holiday weekend but was cancelled because of a mix-up over visitor numbers.

Organisers at The Bacup Hub, formerly Bacup Leisure Centre, are planning to hold the event again for those who were unable to attend.

A police spokesman said: “We are not aware of any bikers being turned away.

"The bike show was cancelled and we may have advised visitors coming into the Valley this was the case. "This sounds like a case of cross wires.”