A WAR of words has broken out over Armistice centenary plans.

Borough councillors and Whalley community members are at loggerheads following plans to change the village's remembrance service to mark the 100 year anniversary since the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.

Remembrance services are held in different villages in Ribble Valley one after the other to mark the sacrifice made by men from each of the villages, including in Whalley where 65 boys and young men lost their lives.

Whalley Remembers, a new community group set up in the village, want to 'break tradition' and host a number of special events to mark the centenary.

Some ideas which have been mooted include an Act of Remembrance at the Whalley war memorial and a service of Thanksgiving in the parish church.

More than 50 residents attended a public meeting at Whalley Church of England Primary School to discuss how the community should mark the centenary of the armistice, signed on November 11, 1918.

The chair of the meeting, Cliff Ball, who also works as church warden, outlined some of the ideas discussed at the meeting and said: "The bells of the parish church will ring out just as they did on Armistice Day, the streets will be covered with bunting and there will be poppy decorations throughout the village.

"All of this is intended to try to recreate the atmosphere of 100 years ago when the war was over and everyone waited for the lads to return from the trenches."

Jean Lord, the secretary of the Whalley local history group and helping Mr Bull run the event, said: "I'm quite excited about it because the event was very well attended.

"We know that Billington do their own procession and attend their own memorial but we hope they will be able to get involved in our plans."

A private committee meeting will be held at Whalley Grammar School on Friday and will decide how and where to put the event on, taking into consideration all the ideas put forward by residents at the inaugural meeting.

Some borough and parish councillors have voiced their concern over the fact a 'sombre' day of reflection is being 'celebrated'.

Cllr Terry Hill, who represents the area, said: "We do not need this massive proposed one or two day event.

"It's a historic event but it was not the war to end all wars and not something to be celebrated.

"The Sunday 11 is a day for the deep and sombre reflection of the First World War which I'm sure will be reflected in the service of the church and the war memorial.

"We do not want to disrupt services in Whalley, Billington, Clitheroe or elsewhere."

Cllr Joyce Holgate, who also represents the area, said: "The Whalley Remembers group want to change it but it has been traditionally held in Billington.

"I would like it to stay the same, the way it always has been."

Brian Haworth, who is the chairman of Billington and Old Langho Parish Council, said: "We are not involved in the 'Whalley Remembers' project.

"We will have a normal cenotaph service whatever Whalley is having."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who regularly attends the Billington remembrance service, said: "I think the two groups need to get together and sort this out.

"They are singing from the same hymn sheet.

"They can each continue what they are doing if they work together.

"The communities do not need to be a loggerheads and I'm certain it can be sorted."