A TASKFORCE is to be set up to try to save one of the North-East's biggest free festivals.

The future of the Stanley Blues Festival, in County Durham, was thrown into doubt after Derwentside District Council decided not to back the event, which is scheduled to take place on the Kings Head playing fields, in the former pit town, in August.

The festival has become a victim of measures aimed at cutting council spending by £1m this year.

Last night, members of the district council's Strong Communities Panel voted unanimously to set up a working party with officers from Derwentside Leisure Services and its partner in the event, Consett-based music co-operative Northern Recording.

The group will look at alternative funding for the festival.

There is no admission charge for the festival, which costs about £40,000 to run.

The council has traditionally picked up any deficit after profits from the bar and other commercial activities on site. Last year, it came to £18,800.

The budget cutbacks this year also mean that council officers will have to cut other support, such as securing entertainment licences and managing the site during the event.

A panel member, Councillor Kevin Howe, said: "We have developed a festival in Stanley, and the people of Derwentside see that as a piece of work that we do in partnership with Northern Recording.

"If we were to pull that, then we would be slated by the general public. Whether we pull out or not, it is us who are going to take the flak."

The event has been running for 11 years, and last year attracted more than 12,000 people. It is estimated that £500,000 a year is invested in the local economy because of it.

No one from Northern Recording was available for comment after the meeting.