THE man behind the Torchlight theme tune has been left with nearly 200 CDs on his hands after being moved on by the police on the night of the procession.

Amateur songwriter Mark Elkington said: "It was only ten past seven and I hadn't sold a single CD when the police told me I could not sell them without a permit."

The Blackpool civil servant was commissioned by the Torchlight committee to write a Millennium Torchlight tune.

Initially Mr Elkington enjoyed working on the song, but gradually reality began to bite.

"It all got a bit out of hand, I began by just writing the song but ended up making, selling and promoting it," he said.

Undeterred, Mr Elkington sold the tune in person on the weekends running up to the Torchlight and "knocked on doors", selling nearly 100 CDs to shops and individuals.

On the night of the event, Mr Elkington turned out with the CDs in the belief he had permission to sell the goods and a promotional van would be playing the tune.

But before the procession even reached the town centre, he found himself packing up shop.

"Every year you get cowboy traders at these events and the police are just doing their job.

But I was commissioned to do this by the Torchlight Committee," he said.

Despite believing he was "let down quite severely" Mr Elkington said the experience had not been all bad.

"I want to thank all the people who supported me including the people who bought the CD."

Ron Clancy, Torchlight committee chairman, said: "If people experienced any problems on the night we want to know, we want to go forward not backwards."

Sergeant Clive Davidson of Kendal Police said that the police would not have moved anybody on who could provide either a peddler's certificate or official Torchlight identification.

Copies of "Torchlight 2000" are available by post for £3.00 plus 50p package and posting on 01253 752491.