DARWEN Live festival came in under budget, it has been revealed.

Darwen Town Council leader Stephen Duncan said the bank holiday weekend event was around £7,000 under budget.

He said £40,000 had been set aside but only around £33,000 had been spent.

The savings were welcomed by colleagues.

It was revealed that only two acts had been paid for, which included £5,000 for Billy Bragg and another had only claimed expenses.

It was agreed that the vast quantity of unsold t-shirts would be donated to Darwen Leisure Centre for disabled groups and the youth club.

Town councillor John East said: “I propose a vote of thanks for producing the show under budget.”

Town councillor Brenda Cronshaw added: “I know what hard work went into it, and the feedback from the event has been good.”

They also proposed that a beer tent be set up outside the Bridgewater pub next year as drinkers were waiting for up to half an hour to be served.