COUNCIL bosses insist that Darwen Music Live will go ahead next year, despite one of the key organisers pulling out.

Darwen Music Projects (DMP) formed in 2000 to organise the town's first music festival which went on to become Darwen Live, held over three days in May.

But the 2007 event was thrown into doubt after members of DMP, which spend six months preparing for the event, said they would not be getting involved.

Gary Ward, of the not-for-profit organisation, said: "It's been a tough decision.

"Certain regulations from Blackburn with Darwen Council are among the things which will make it difficult to progress the festival from where it is now.

"The council insists it has to be a free festival and that restricts us as to what we can do as the bigger acts we are looking to attract cost more money.

"There is more uncertainty about the council funding and we don't want to find ourselves organising a festival that never goes ahead.

"To organise Darwen Live involves pouring six months of our lives into a festival which could be pulled."

DMP will now look to get involved in other community projects in the town.

Council bosses are trying to find new main organisers for the festival.

But Coun John Milburn, executive member for leisure and culture, said he was certain the event would still take place in 2007.

He said: "Darwen Live music festival has benefited from a successful partnership between Darwen Music Projects and the council.

"They have worked together to deliver an event that showcased a diverse programme of musical artistes. Darwen Music Projects informed the council that it no longer wanted to be involved and the council thanked them for their past involvement."

Last year crowds turned out in their thousands despite heavy rain to watch the likes of Gone Beggin', The Blockheads and Oyster on the main stage.

In its seventh year, Darwen Live grew into the biggest event on the town's calendar.