CATERING workers are still waiting for a cash refund four months after fire forced an Abba cabaret night to be cancelled.

The 32 colleagues from Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, paid a £320 deposit for the October bash at Martholme Grange to mark a retirement.

But their party plan went up in smoke when fire gutted the Altham venue in early September causing around £40,000 worth of damage.

Sharon Townsend of Douglas Grove, Darwen, said: "It is disgusting that we are still £10 out of pocket four months after the party was supposed to be held.

"We ended up having to find another location at short notice and paying out another deposit.

"Every time we ring to complain we get fobbed off. We were not provided with any entertainment so we want to know what our deposit was spent on."

Martholme Grange manager David Clews said: "Because of the fire we have not been trading as usual. All we can say is that all our liabilities will be settled when our business interruption insurance claim is processed."

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