CONTROVERSIAL plans to merge Blackburn's annual Mela and Arts in the Park events are to be discussed at an extraordinary council meeting.

The move, prompted opposition Labour councillors, has been branded "political nonsense" by Tory council leader Colin Rigby.

Labour claims the decision to replace the events with a two-day, town-centre 'community arts festival' needs to be debated by the whole of the council.

The merger of the annual Witton Park events was given the green light by the council's ruling executive board in a meeting last week.

The decision to axe the ethnic culture Mela and Arts in the Park, a more traditional music event, has sparked concern.

Critics claiming there was a lack of consultation and raising safety fears about holding the new event in Blackburn town centre, with claims it could degenerate into a drunken free-for-all.

And MP Jack Straw said he thought the move was a backward step.

Tuesday's meeting will not have the power to reverse the decision, but Labour councillors have tabled a motion calling on the executive to abandon the plans.

If it is passed, the motion would be debated at the council's next executive board meeting.

Under the council's constitution, five councillors can call an extraordinary meeting, which has to take place within seven days.

But the decision drew a furious response from Coun Rigby, who said Labour should have used the traditional calling in' method of referring the decision on the festivals to a council scrutiny committee, which would then report back to the executive board.

He said: "This is the worst form of politics. They have the option to call the decision in, and it would be fully debated.

"They just want to make some political noise.

"I could name area after area that has joined-up festivals. We are trying to encourage cohesion. It has worked in other areas, and it could work here."

Labour leader Coun Kate Hollern admitted she did not think the plans to merge the festivals would be reversed, but defended the decision to call a meeting.

She added: "We wouldn't use this just for any reason. I want the whole council to know about the safety risks of this decision."