A COMMUNITY is arranging its own musical Christmas event after a popular annual carol singing gathering was cancelled.

Rishton Churches Together and councillor Ken Moss will hold ‘Rishton Sings Christmas’ at the Roebuck Inn after Lancashire Churches Together decided not to co-ordinate its Lancashire Sings Christmas event this year.

The one-hour carol service, which had been running since 2010 and was broadcast on BBC Radio Lancashire, encouraged local communities in the county to come together to sing.

Left ‘disappointed’ by the announcement the event will not be happening, the Rishton group, which had hosted the recorded service, will hire a PA system, music and carol sheets and perform a selection of Christmas readings on December 19.

Rishton Churches Together chairwoman, Ruth Collin, said: “The event had been a good way to bring everyone in the community together regardless of religion and get Lancastrians singing together.

“We thought rather than do nothing, why not organise an event ourselves so that Rishtoners will not be left out?”

Coun Moss said: “We know that it won’t be the same in terms of linking with other communities but hope our event will continue to be a success in Rishton and get people singing.”

Lancashire Churches Together spokesman for the event Reverend Nick Moxon said the cross denomination group initially set up the event with a view to encouraging churches to establish their own regular community events.

He said the group would discuss whether to run it next year.

Mr Moxon said: “It has been a great event but we never created it as a definite, long-term project.

“Our aim was to act as the catalyst to bring churches and their local communities together to start their own carol service they would be able to continue, whether or not we continued to broadcast a Lancashire-wide one.

“I am hopeful that the event will return next year but would encourage communities this year to choose their own music and host their own event.”

BBC Radio Lancashire producer John Clayton said: “We were disappointed to learn that the event will not be running this year and look forward to hopefully helping to broadcast it next year.”