ANGRY Burnley residents say the arrival of a sprawling fair on their doorsteps - for more than a week - is far from ‘fun’ for them.

Neighbours and Burnley’s council leader claim the fun-fair set up shop yards from houses on the former Cloverbrook site in Gannow Lane without warning them or the council.

The fair includes the 130-ft high ‘Bomber’ attraction, alongside 24 other rides and stalls, including traditional waltzers and a runaway train feature.

Fair bosses, who said they have run regular spectaculars in Burnley and Nelson without problems in the past, said they told police before moving on to the old Peel Mill plot beside the M65.

Neighbour Barry Phillips, 54, said: “I don’t believe this site is suitable. The ground is uneven and there are piles of rubble around it. I dread to think what the parking situation will be like when it gets busy.

“The council should have prevented it from coming. There could be all kinds of problems for residents with the amount of noise and number of kids attracted to it. It’s not like it’s only here for the weekend either. It’s going on for 10 days.”

A 59-year-old neighbour, whose property backs on to the site said she had already been affected by the fair.

“When the lorries started turning up on Thursday the ground was vibrating. I could feel it inside the house which is only a few yards away.

“I’ve got health problems and I’m scared it will affect my sleep with the noise and disturbance.”

A 51-year-old near neighbour, said: “The first I knew about it was when I saw an advert for it. We only lives yards away and were not consulted at all.

“I feel serious questions need to be asked whether this is a suitable place to hold a fun-fair.”

Coun Charlie Briggs, council leader and a Gannow ward member, said the council had ‘limited powers’ to deal with the fair but council officials would be monitoring it and would take action if they could.

He added: “The operator did not consult with the council on their plans to come to Burnley, and the first I knew about it was when I was alerted to posters earlier this week.

“I am extremely disappointed with the operator, because whenever we, as a council, work with operators to put fun fairs on our land, we consult with all relevant agencies and ward councillors, to ensure that any concerns that local residents may have, are adequately addressed.

“I have concerns regarding the suitability of the site, access and the potential increase in anti-social behaviour that may result from the fun fair.”

Coun Briggs said the organisers of another fair, on Hargher Recreation Ground, starting next Friday, had liaised closely with the authorities before publicising their event.

But David Taylor, who runs Taylor’s Fun Fairs, said he had consulted police about the Gannow Lane fair and would be providing his own security on site.

He added: “We have approached the council in Burnley on previous occasions looking for a site, but nothing was forthcoming.

“However our strong links with local authorities can be witnessed in Nelson, where we will be presenting the town’s spring fair from March 28.

“The site at Carr Road has been leased to us twice annually by Pendle Borough Council for over a decade, and this year we will be presenting one of the largest fairs ever.”

Mr Taylor said his firm had also taken part in the annual Burnley Wakes Fair without any reported difficulties.