RESIDENTS are furious that a funfair went ahead just yards from their homes despite a council attempt to ban it.

The council claims the fairground operators forced their way on to the Accrington Stanley car park last Saturday evening.

But residents on Livingstone Road say they have been abandoned to six nights of noise and nuisance.

Stanley officials originally gave permission for the fair which is billed as raising money for Pendlebury Children's Hospital, Manchester.

But Hyndburn Council, which leases the land to Stanley, was alerted and ruled the site unsuitable.

Milnshaw ward councillor, Malcolm Pritchard, and the council's corporate property manager Ian Hoole joined residents to meet the fair when it rolled into town at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Councillor Pritchard said: "We spoke to the owner Henry Hill and he said he he had spent £3,000 on advertising the event.

"We explained the situation but the fairground workers then used a crowbar or bolt cutters to get onto the site and all the wagons rolled on."

A resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "There are a lot of elderly folk round here whose gardens back on to the ground, with only a low fence separating them from the fair. They are frightened to go out and are worried sick about gangs of youths and noise.

"The first we heard of the fair was when I saw a flyer in town. We approached the council which said the fair wasn't permitted but we feel like we are fighting a losing battle."

Stanley Chief Executive Rob Heys said: "We gave permission for the funfair as a charity event but when the council alerted us we tried to contact Henry Hill to cancel.

"We appreciate the residents' concerns and I have spoken personally to everyone who has complained. We were only trying to help out the charity. We have had good dialogue with the fairground people and are monitoring the situation every day."

Councillor Pritchard added: "It's been a nightmare for residents who will have to live with this for six full days.

"Since the fair forced its way onto the site I have visited with environmental health workers and residents to help set an appropriate noise level."

The fair, which is run by three brothers from Bolton, has been running since Valentine's Day and will finish on Sunday night.

Owner Henry Hill said: "We do three of these charity events a year to raise money for the hospital.

"I don't want to upset anyone and have been co-operating with Accrington Stanley and the council. I have asked residents to tolerate the fair and I have promised not to come back again if we are not wanted."

He denied breaking onto the site and claimed the gates were open.

Mr Hoole said: "The club is the leaseholder and operation of the fair is a breach of the leasehold."

He has written to all nearby residents to say: "Accrington Stanley has attempted to cancel the event but the fairground operator forced entry on to the car park on Saturday evening.

"The council has not given permission for the fair to be held on the site and has received several calls from residents who are concerned about the possibility of loud noises from the site.

"Although removal of the fairground is a matter between Accrington Stanley and the fairground operator, there is the possibility that the fair may proceed during the course of the week."