Balloon event set to be cancelled

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The event attracted 25,000 people each year

An annual balloon festival, which has been going for nearly 20 years, is set to be cancelled after losing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Plans to cancel the Northampton Balloon Festival are being put forward by borough council leader Tony Woods.

He told the BBC News website that the event cost the council £250,000 last year. "I'd like to see it continue but I can't justify the cost," he said.

The plans go before Northampton Borough Council's cabinet on 19 February.

If the cabinet decides to cancel the festival, the proposals will go to the full council on 26 February.

Mr Woods said the money was needed to help maintain frontline council services.

"I think times have moved on. Last year the event cost every council taxpayer £3," he said.

"I think we need to move to put on a wider range of entertainments and events to attract more people and bring them into the town centre."

He said the cost of staging the huge event, and complying with health and safety law, was not met by ticket sales or through sponsorship.