NELSON residents have rallied to save their town's namesake from last orders.

The Lord Nelson Hotel, Manchester Road, has been bought by Preston-based Honeycombe Leisure PLC, which wants to change its title to Last Orders.

But people living in Whitefield are furious the pub, which gave Nelson its name, is going lose its title.

Whitefield community action group chairman, Sylvia Wilson, said: "You don't go around changing the title of Buckingham Palace, Nelson's Column or Parliament.

"It's part of our culture. It's our pub, it's our town, it stands for Nelson. We can't have anyone coming in here and messing with our history.

"They are going to have a fight on their hands. It will always be referred to as the Lord Nelson, whatever they change the name to."

The hotel, which celebrates its bi-centenary next year, started as the Lord Nelson Inn at the crossroads leading to Burnley, Colne and Gisburn. The town did not exist and the inn was a resting place for cattle drivers to stop and have a drink.

It was named after the naval leader following the British fleet's victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar, in which Nelson was killed.

The pub, now the Lord Nelson Hotel, is owned by Mitchell and Butler and will change hands on October 28. It will then close for four weeks for refurbishment before reopening under its new name.

Assistant manager, Nicola Ellis, said: "The customers have not been right happy about the name.

"Quite a few people have said it shouldn't be changed and said whatever they change it to, it will still be the Lord Nelson.

"It's going to be centred more on sport and music."

Honeycomb Leisure were not available for comment.