End of road for Ludlow Festival

Ludlow Festival is folding after more than 50 years, as organisers do not have enough funds for next year.

Trustees say the 'appalling wet weather' during the summer is to blame for hitting ticket sales and finances. Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at Ludlow Castle on July 6 was called off at short notice after heavy rain.

More than 800 tickets had been sold for the performance and Roy Coles, chairman of Ludlow Festival Society Ltd, said it had been 'the straw that broke the camel's back'.

But there are hopes that a festival could be resurrected in the future, although nothing concrete has yet been lined up for next year.

The summer festival, which was visited by the Queen and Prince Philip in 2003 was first held in 1960 and more attracted 12,000 to 15,000 visitors each year.

Highlights during the two-week event included Shakespeare plays and the grand finale concert and fireworks display at Ludlow Castle.

A statement issued by Ludlow Festival Society Ltd said the decision was taken with "heavy hearts and great sadness".

It added: "We were hit extremely hard by the appalling wet weather which badly affected our sales, resulting in losses."

Mr Coles added the full extent of the society's losses would not be known until its accounts were published later this year: "We just cannot carry on the way we've been doing it for the past 50 years. It is a very sad situation and there has been a lot of soul searching

"When the financial situation gets better and after a few nice summers someone might come up with something completely new."

Town's call to arms over arts showpiece - See today's Shropshire Star