Chair of the Lytham St Annes Twinning Association Barbara MacKenzie is looking into the possibility of forging a partnership with Hayashima, near Hiroshima.

Mayor Tomohiko Sato visited St Annes in August and Mrs MacKenzie and her husband made the return trip at the end of October.

But Coun Barbara Pagett this week hit out at the plans, saying that atrocities committed by Japanese forces during the Second World War were still too raw in the minds of many residents.

And her claims were backed up by Chairman of the St Annes Branch of the Royal British Legion, Albert Cooper.

Barbara Pagett, an Independent Councillor for Ashton Ward, said: "It might be 63 years since the theatre of operations in the Far East during World War Two ended but I believe it is not yet long enough to forget what happened there.

"I would urge those promoting twinning with a Japanese town to be more sensitive to the feelings of those with longer memories, for whom 63 years will not be enough.

"From what I have heard over the last couple of days many of my friends and family around town and further afield would not wish this to happen."

Coun Pagett added that she feared she would be labelled "racist" for speaking out but said her viewpoint was reasonable considering the "unspeakable" acts suffered by British soldiers taken captive by the Japanese.

But Mrs MacKenzie defended the move, saying that twinning helped promote tolerance and understanding between different cultures. She described Coun Pagett's attitude as not being "accepting" or "Christian".

"It's not for me to say what she should be thinking but in this day and age I think we should show more tolerance.

"We are talking about a long time ago. We should not give young people the baggage that the older generation have.

"I just think it's vital in a global culture that we learn first hand about other ways of life."

More than 50,000 British PoWs and 19,000 civilians were captured by the Japanese and forced to work in inhumane conditions in mines or on the so-called Railway of Death between Thailand and Burma. Nearly one quarter of those seized died in captivity.

Japan has apologised to victims of its military aggression.

In November 2000 the British Government announced a £167m compensation scheme for civilians interned by the Japanese during the Second World War, with each receiving £10,000 as a "debt of honour".

Mr Cooper, Chairman of St Annes British Legion, said: "In my personal opinion I can't think of anything in its favour other than a nice holiday for somebody.
"If you ever mention Japan to anybody who served there you get a terrible reaction, It's just too soon."

Lytham St Annes has been twinned with Werne in Germany for the past 25 years and is also looking at forging links with Voiron in France.