AN event which draws thousands of people to a Northumberland town is under threat as its organisers are on the verge of folding.

The Dickensian Market at Berwick could have been held for the final time last Christmas with the Berwick Events Group (BEG) which runs it having neither the manpower or the funds to be able to continue.

The group has meanwhile hit out at Berwick’s shops for not supporting the event despite the business it brings to the town.

BEG was set up four years ago as a band of volunteers with charitable status.

It organises regular car boot sales during the summer and has considered putting on a mid-year attraction, but the market is the main event its members put on and its sole expenditure.

The festival has been held on Berwick’s Marygate, just before Christmas, each year since BEG was formed.

Members have to raise funds through donations and other means to allow it to be staged. The group estimates the market brings up to 10,000 people into Berwick.

However, BEG has now admitted it was only just able to put on the 2011 event, with it having struggled to raise enough funds in the tough economic climate.

The stress of last year’s experience has contributed to the decision of the chairman, vice chairman and secretary of the group to resign recently. All three have their own businesses to run.

And the group has no money left over from last year’s event to put on this year’s.

A crunch meeting has been lined up for Thursday, at which it is hoped that new members will come forward.

However, if insufficient people are found and if no new funding can be identified for the staging of the market, the group will fold at its annual general meeting in April.

BEG member Anne Reay said: “We as a group are devastated that last year’s market could be the last, but it takes a lot of work to organise and committee members are just too low.

“We also had difficult with funding last year and unless we can get some form of local sponsorship, or can acquire more funding, plus get more volunteers, this year will simply not happen. We are certain any shop that opens for this day has to see sales increase, yet not one shop has offered any kind of support.

“We did have some sponsorship from companies who would not benefit from the event and there are some who support us by dressing up for the occasion and we are extremely grateful to them all. But unfortunately that is now not enough.

“We know that everyone will just expect the event to happen but without help it just will not.”

The meeting will take place at the Reiver’s Tryst on Marygate at 5.30pm.

Anyone who can help the group is any way is asked to contact Anne by phone on 01890 882460 or e-mail: f.reay@sky.com