MORECAMBE'S punk festival could have an outdoor future after councillors agreed it should run side by side with the festival market.

The punk festival organisers had demanded the market hall and threatened to pull out of the resort if it was unavailable.

However, councillors were told at Tuesday's cabinet meeting that the scale of last year's event, which marked the 25th anniversary of punk, was unlikely to be repeated.

One idea which has been floated is the use of the Bubbles site after the former swimming pools are demolished, with a temporary marquee erected.

Last year's festival brought in an estimated £1 million and 5,000 visitors during a three day period. The cost to the council ended up being just £3,000.

Traders, who say the punk festival causes them considerable disruption, forcing them to close down during one of the busiest weeks of the year, handed over a petition with more than 7,000 signatures demanding to keep the market open.

They claim the market supports 200 jobs year round and provides more than £300,000 annually to the council in rent income. Cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, Cllr Carolyn Simpson said: "We are dedicated to making sure we host festivals in order to help the hoteliers and attract even more people into the resort.

"Likewise, having met the market traders, we are very aware of the significant economic contribution they make to the area and the number of visitors they also attract. We therefore feel it is important that the authority makes every effort to enable both the festival and the market to go ahead."

Further meetings are now planned with the festival organisers in a bid to ensure their return next year.