A FIRM responsible for a PA system which failed at a Remembrance Sunday event has been re-hired for next year.

Westhoughton town councillors voted in favour of Leisuretec to supply the PA system at future civic events – despite the failure which left hundreds of people unable to hear the commemorative service.

Vandals were spotted tampering with battery terminals which meant there was insufficient power to use the amplifiers.

Many members of the public attending the service complained to town council leader Cllr David Chadwick after being left disappointed at the service

Despite these reports, the council agreed to pay £395 for Leisuretec to supply a PA system at the 2015 Remembrance Day service when they met on Monday, November 24.

Cllr Colette Harkin questioned why the company had not detected the failing speakers earlier than five minutes before the service began.

She said: "They should have known earlier that it wasn't working. How did they not spot that people were messing about round the back? I was amazed that they could not see that something was going on."

She was outvoted by her peers and Cllr Chadwick said: "This was of acute embarrassment to the company that has been involved.

"Up to this year we have had a completely trouble-free time with them.

"To be fair to them it was not of their doing that the PA system failed.

"I am endeavouring to provide alternative power supply rather than just a batter power back-up."

It is thought that the Leisuretec has been used by Westhoughton Town Council for five civic events.

The firm has agreed to waive its fee for the event and vowed to to visit Westhoughton in the New Year to assess other ways of sourcing power to the site.