UKIP leader Nigel Farage has cut a planned day-long business conference in East Lancashire to a half-day.

Final preparations are now being made for the event, at the Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel, in Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moors, on January 24.

It is open to all from the business world interested in hearing about the party’s views.

Mr Farage will be available for questions after the session, with UKIP’s deputy leader and North West MEP Paul Nuttall, and Amjad Bashir, party spokesman on small and medium-sized business.

It had been initially planned that the event would span the day, but it is now to begin in the afternoon, with registration at 1.30pm.

Entry is by £10 ticket, and those wishing to attend should email ukipsouthribble@gmail.com A UKIP spokeswoman said: “Nigel has such a whirlwind life he could only make it in the afternoon.

“He just never stops and his feet rarely touch the ground with all the demands on his time.”