A TOWN'S traders have called for a showpiece festival to be cancelled after it emerged that taxpayers were footing a huge bill.
North Tyneside Borough Council spent £321,000 on last year's Window on the World event, and this year's budget has been set at £250,000.
Traders at North Shields have argued that the festival, in May, is a waste of money and brings no benefit to the area.
But festival director Brian Topping last night rejected the claims and said the event had brought massive benefits to traders and Metro operator Nexus.
He said the Newcastle and Gateshead Initiative, which is bidding for Capital of Culture status in 2008, regards the festival as a key to its success.
More than 600,000 people passed through North Shields Fish Quay last May to watch performers such as HearSay.
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