A CAR boot sale due to be held every Sunday over the summer in Kelbrook has sparked controversy in the village.

Karen Graham has organised the event, due to commence on June 15 for 14 weeks, in a bid to encourage local traders and craftspeople to sell their wares.

But residents living next to the field, and other villagers have complained to Pendle Council asking it to help prevent the sales going ahead.

Graham Jagger, of Colne Road, was one of several residents to attend a meeting of the West Craven Committee on Tuesday.

He said that he was unashamed of his 'Not in My Back Yard' attitude to the sale.

"It is proposed to run a Sunday market and a car boot sale in a field immediately behind my house and my neighbours' houses.

"I haven't got an issue with farmers and landowners using their property for a living, and diversification we accept is the norm these days," he said.

"But I am unashamedly NIMBY about this. It is literally at the bottom of our garden, right over the back garden wall. Potentially people will be looking over into our gardens virtually every Sunday and that's of great concern to us.

"It will not only affect our lives each and every Sunday but will be detrimental to the village. This is a pleasant, rural village and this will not add to it."

Others were concerned about the amount of traffic the event would attract, and increased parking on neighbouring roads.

Mrs Graham, who lives on the farm which owns the field, said after the meeting that she had not been approached by any of the complainants, despite her number being clearly advertised on the sign.

"The field isn't huge and the cars will be parking in the field, so I don't see there will be any problems with traffic," she said.

"My idea was to have a local market for local people. We have tried to get local farmers to sell their local produce. One of the farms involved sells home-made icecream and I have also asked a local artist from Earby to come and sell paintings and cards.

"The whole thing is in keeping with the local community and I was hoping local people would come in and enjoy the event. We have thought about it carefully and put a lot of work in. I thought people would be really pleased."

She added that she had anticipated concerns from neighbouring householders and had arranged for the stalls to be further up the field, away from the houses.

She has also moved a sign advertising the event into the field from the highway after complaints were made to the council. This has been attached to an old vehicle and she said that she regretted this did not look as appealing, a comment which was echoed at the council meeting.

Members agreed to monitor the situation and deal with problems as they arose.

"We have stopped them widening the gateway and we have moved the sign, but that's basically all we can do," said Earby parish councillor Rosemary Carroll.

"We will keep a close eye on it, if they do park on the highway we can get the police to shift them, but they have said they will park on the field.

"There is not an awful lot we can do about it I'm afraid. They are entitled to hold it 14 days a year, without permission."

The committee also agreed to set up a meeting between the organisers of the event, police, councillors and interested parties.