PUBLICANS and hoteliers in Burnley have won their battle to retain the town's National Blues Festival.
The 12th annual event will go ahead from April 21 to 24, bringing thousands of visitors to the borough.
Earlier this year, the large-scale event seemed doomed after council organisers said it had become increasingly difficult to finance the festival as a national event because of rising costs and increased competition from other towns.
They planned a smaller weekend festival with more money to be used to finance other social events in the town.
But protests resulted in a steering group being set up to save the festival and this has secured additional funding and sponsorship for next year.
The group, made up of the Burnley Mechanics, the council's arts and entertainments and tourism officers, Initiative Burnley, Burnley Chamber of Trade and the Burnley Festival Fringe operators and hoteliers, is committed to the continuation of the event as a major attraction.
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