A MUSIC festival which raises money for charity has been cancelled.

Organisers of the Beats Cancer music festival, which has been based in Clitheroe in the last three years, have announced the festival will be scrapped this year because they are unable to hold it at Clitheroe Castle.

According to the festival organisers, bosses at Ribble Valley Council have told them they will have to pay an ‘extortionate’ fee to perform the festival on the castle grounds again.

Nearly 3,000 people visited the festival in August last year, where over 20 artists performed on four different stages, including Judge Jules and more than £25,000 was raised for charities Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Duncan Dickins, 40, one of the organisers, said he is disappointed that the festival won’t be running this year.

He said: “It’s a shame because the event was very popular and raised a lot of money for a good cause.

“We were told we have to cover it up to keep the grass safe but that this significantly increases the cost of running the event.

“We are disappointed about the decision but we are confident the festival will be back up and running soon and better than before.”

Mr Dickins, of Chatburn, hopes the festival can be staged next May in a new Ribble Valley location.

Responding to the news, Ribble Valley Council leader Cllr Ken Hind said: “The festival did disturb a lot of people last year because there was a drum played that went on all day.

“I received phone calls during the course of the festival from people who live half a mile away from the castle and could still hear it.

“Nobody wants to stop their fun but I would suggest they move to a more isolated site in the area that would be less disruptive.”