HYNDBURN'S annual Mela festival will go ahead as planned on Sunday despite the historic Oak Hill Park bandstand being destroyed by arsonists.
Organisers of the colourful community festival were determined not to be beaten by the firebugs who started the raging blaze in the early hours of last Friday morning.
They were adamant the show must go on and have been racing against time to provide a temporary stage and power supply.
Nigel Green, Hyndburn Council's events officer, said: "We refuse to be beaten by this and Sunday's event promises to be our best. A new stage is being sourced and all of the live acts wil perform as planned."
Nick Hunt, director of Mid-Pennine Arts, which provides Mela with practical and financial support, said: "The festival will definitely go ahead. We don't know the full implications yet and we're researching the costs of providing alternatives. That lovely old bandstand has hosted a lot of community activities over the years and it's really sad someone put so much effort into destroying it."
The blaze occupied Hyndburn's firefighters for more than two hours.
Sub-officer Terry Nightingale said: "As we turned out from the station we could see a rosy glow near Manchester Road.The bandstand was well alight when we got there. Only the steel and brick frame were left. It was an impressive structure but it's looking pretty sorry now.
"The park was chained up so we had to cut the bolts off. A slight difficulty was getting water to it. We had one engine at the bandstand and one at a hydrant in Manchester Road, which we pumped from."
An inspection of the scene confirmed that two burned trees, which are 150 years old, will have to be felled.
Incensed ward councillor Tony Dobson said: "I am gutted because it's another public facility destroyed by fire, just like the changing rooms on King George's playing fields that went up in flames a few years ago.
"The council is consistently short of money and this could put extra pressure on our finances. It will be six months before are able to get the bandstand repaired."
The mela will run from 1pm to 7pm and will feature international, as well as Hyndburn, bands, a funfair, kite-making, face-painting and a variety of family activities.
Headliners Stereo Nation, one of the top UK bands of Indian origin who combine bhangra with reggae, wil take to the stage around 6.15pm.
Other bands lined up include London-based Bushcraft, soul band Heatwave, ska band Dead Mole Crickets and local groups Parkstone and SWS
