THE survival of a Dales festival is being threatened by a lack of volunteers to help organise it.

Sue Constantine has been the driving force behind the Middleham Festival, along with stalwarts John and Dawn Woodward.

But Mrs Constantine has now been asked to take over the running of the Middleham Stables Open Day, while the Woodwards have confirmed they plan to emigrate.

"With the best will in the world, I can't cope with both,'' said Mrs Constantine yesterday.

"What we need is a handful of volunteers willing to take over. If we could get half a dozen, then it would not be too difficult to carry on."

A meeting has been held in an attempt to find a new volunteer workforce, but with disappointing results.

"I thought we may have to scrap the festival there and then, but we have decided to have one more go," said Mrs Constantine.

"We will have another make-or-break meeting at the Middleham Key Centre on the evening of Wednesday, October 22, but if no one turns up, that will be it."

New festival co-ordinators are assured they would not be expected to give up too much of their free time to arrange a programme for next year.

So far, the committee behind the festival has met once every other month to prepare dates for events, more frequently in the immediate run-up to the programme and then helped with publicity and banners during the festival itself.

"However, we haven't run the events themselves," said Mrs Constantine.

"The responsibility for the costs and for booking venues is down to the organisers of each event. All we have done is try to make sure things run smoothly and don't clash."

Highlights in the past have included re-enactments of scenes from the life of Richard III, at Middleham Castle, arranged by English Heritage, tombstone tours, open days at the town's racing stables, and arts and craft events around the town and in the Key Centre.

"All we ask is that organisers of events run under the festival umbrella donate 20 per cent of their takings to help cover the costs of next year's programme," said Mrs Constantine.

"I would be willing to offer help and advice to anyone who comes forward, but trying to manage the open day and the festival on my own would be too much.''

For details about the meeting, or to volunteer, call (01969) 623846.