TIME has been called on a beer festival because organisers can no longer afford to pay hire charges at one of Blackburn's premier venues.

After six years, CAMRA officials have reluctantly rolled out the barrel for the last time at the council-run King George's Hall, because the charges were becoming increasingly hard to pay.

Now the event is set to disappear for ever, unless a suitable venue for next year's programme is found. This year's event, which was scheduled to be held at the end of October, has already been scrapped.

Since its launch in 1990, the four-day festival has attracted more than 2,000 visitors each year and has raised more than £7,000 for charity - the majority going towards the East Lancashire Hospice Appeal.

Money raised from last year's event was donated to the Mayor's Charity Fund which was presented to the Mayor, Councillor Peter Greenwood, by members this week.

Ian Chadwick, co-ordinator of the Blackburn Beer Festival, said: "This is a very sad time for us but there is no other answer than to cancel the event.

"Last year's attendance dropped to an all-time low and it was coming to the stage where we were struggling just to make a profit." A council spokesman said: "The hall's for hire by anoyone who makes a booking and we haven't been approached by the organisers."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.