NEXT year's Winchester Festival could be scrapped unless a major new sponsor is found.

While this year's event -- between July 8 and 17 -- will go ahead as planned, the festival must find more cash, since its major partner, cruise specialists, Swann Hellenic, has not renewed the amount it gives.

Hampshire County Council is also reconsidering whether it can continue making a grant to the festival, according to the artistic director, John Miller.

The festival specialises in bringing high quality speakers to Winchester, including John Julius Norwich, the historian, who is a world authority on Venice, and performances by top actresses like Dame Judi Dench.

Mr Miller agreed that the figure needed was around £16,000.

"The festival must get a major sponsor, otherwise our future is of some concern," said Mr Miller, himself a prolific writer, with books on Dame Judi, Peter Ustinov and John Gielgud to his credit.

Next Wednesday he will interview the actress, Lauren Bacall, at the National Theatre.

At the eighth Winchester Festival this July, the journalists Jon Snow and Max Hastings will give talks, and pianist John Lill will play at the St Swithun's School performing arts centre.

Mr Miller said: "It would be a terrible shame if the Winchester Festival could not continue, but this is the spectre that faces us. "We hope for better news by the time this year's festival is launched at the Wessex Hotel on May 13."

A spokeswoman for Hampshire County Council said: "A three-year funding package was set up in December, 2003.

"This allocated £20,000 for the festival in 2004/5, £20,000 for 2005/6 and £10,000 for 2006/7. That stands. At the moment, all the city festivals are under review by Winchester City and Hampshire County Councils."

No one was available to comment at Swann Hellenic as the Hampshire Chronicle went go press.