ALRESFORD town chiefs will give a £1,000 grant to the annual town music festival, but probably for the last time.

The council has been supporting the event since it started three years ago.

But the council last night heard that this year the one-day bash at Arlebury Park had made so much money that it had donated £5,000 each to Alresford Youth Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Cllr Margot Power said she had a problem giving public money to a private event that then gave money to charity.

Cllr Roy Gentry agreed: “If they are making that sort of money, then they do not need our support. They needed it in the early days. That is what we are here for, to help get these things kicked off."

He said there was a similar situation with the annual watercress festival, now a hugely successful event.

Cllr Gentry said the council would still give the festival free use of Arlebury Park and the Stratton Bates recreation ground for use as a car park.

The council was split two votes each, but chairman Lisa Griffiths cast her crucial vote in favour of the grant which covers this year's event.