A BIKING group from Preston have been told they will have to cut short their annual charity weekend of live music due to complaints over noise.

Members of the Preston-based Jesters MCC now fear that their charity raising bash could fail to rake-in the usual big numbers.

Last year, the two-day live band event at Vernon Caris, in Factory Lane, Penwortham, raised £2,000 for needy causes.

And Rachel Eaton, seven, of Fulwood Hall Lane, Preston, featured in The Citizen last month (September 21), is to receive half of the cash toward a new wheelchair.

Pretty Rachel suffers from the crippling bone disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta meaning that her bones break very easily. She has suffered nearly 100 broken bones and needs a wheelchair to get around.

But residents living in the Smalley Croft, Ridge Way and New Lane area have complained to South Ribble Borough Council's environmental chiefs over the level of noise during the two-day event at Vernon Caris, in Factory Lane, Penwortham, last year. For next summer's event the bikers have been told to pull the plug on the live rock bands at 11pm instead of the usual midnight closure.

Jesters MCC member Mick Shkurenko said: "We are not the Hell's Angels, we're just ordinary people who love bikes and a get together to raise money for charity.

"We have held these weekends for three years and there's never been any complaints before."

Councillor Howard Gore said: "I will seek a meeting with the head of environmental health immediately and put the concerns of the group to her.

"Quite often in cases of noise disturbance it is very difficult to find a middle ground."

Pictured: Rachel Eaton with Mark 'Woody' Wood and Susie Q of Jesters.