History has it that the Wars of the Roses ended on the bloody battlefield of Bosworth, more than 600 years ago.

But try telling that to the residents of Barnoldswick near Skipton.

Discontent has been simmering ever since the town, once in the heartlands of the West Riding of Yorkshire, was thrust into Lancashire more than 25 years ago during local government reorganisation.

Today, as they hold their midsummer millennial celebrations in the town square, the good citizens are being challenged to pledge their county allegiance.

The latest cross-border skirmish was sparked over the designs of a new £5,672 millennium clock, paid for by Pendle Borough Council and Barnoldswick town council, and 2,000 mugs which have been presented to primary school pupils.

The Yorkshire clock makers - William Potts of Leeds - manufactured the timepiece with the white rose petals bigger than the red. And when the mugs arrived from the suppliers - Zencoe of Colne, Lancashire - the red rose was bigger than the white.

Pendle councillor David Whipp - a supporter of the Yorkshire camp - said: "In trying to be fair by using both roses, we've managed to upset supporters of both counties. Instead of oil on troubled waters, we've stoked the flames of war.

"So in a bid to broker peace, I've issued a challenge to local people, to people of North Yorkshire - those living in the Skipton area - and people from Lancashire - to take part in our referendum today."

Two large boards, each decorated with hundreds of either white or red roses - have been put up.

"The idea is for people to buy a small paper rose, red or white, and stick it over either the red or white rose on the board. We'll then be able to see where people's true hearts lie. People's hearts are in Yorkshire but we get benefits from being in Lancashire. We have a lovely library and sports centre and good local buses, which is not what we'd get in Craven district or North Yorkshire."

"Realistically, we have to live in Pendle as it is, but we make the best of it and acknowledge our historic associations with pride."

Craven district councillor David Binns, who represents the border ward of West Craven, said he was well aware of the feelings.

"Many people still feel that Yorkshire should be as it was in the old West Riding days. I can understand that because people feel as if they were displaced after centuries of no change."

And David Daniel, chairman and founder of the Yorkshire Society, said he urged people in Barnoldswick to show their allegiance to the county, adding: "One of our objectives is to encourage people to reclaim the old historic boundaries. We urge those former parts of Yorkshire, like Barnoldswick, to return to the fold."

Ian Cameran, general manager at Potts, which has been making clocks since 1833, said they had produced the clock from a design which had been provided - with the outer petals of the rose white and the inner red.

"We are a Yorkshire firm - but I don't want to get involved in the rivalries between Lancashire and Yorkshire," he said.

"I have seen the clock in position and I think it looks tremendous," he added.

And Linda Treitl of Zencoe said they had received two designs for the mug and the end result was a compromise. She said she was aware of the politics of the situation and they had tried to be true to the two original designs.

e-mail:

clive.white@ bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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