Fareham'S popular folk festival may have to move out of the borough next year. Organisers are saying the event is too expensive to stage.

Peter Chegwyn, who has run the Gosport and Fareham Folk Festival since it began 13 years ago, says it costs too much to hire the main venue - Ferneham Hall.

"There is a risk that the festival will be priced out of the town," he said.

Fareham council is charging £3,352 for the hire of the hall and bar, as well as staffing costs, during the five-day festival starting today.

Mr Chegwyn says this is too much when this year's line-up, including The Levellers, is expected to bring in £250,000 to the borough.

However, Fareham Council leader Sean Woodward said the council was subsidising the festival by charging a smaller handling fee for ticket sales.

"We welcome anything into Fareham that lets people use our facilities.

"We give money to organisations to help set themselves up and then once they are we give the money to other organisations who need it."

Hampshire County Council has contributed £5,000 towards the cost of this year's festival that will feature concerts, workshops and traditional music sessions.

If the festival does move, Mr Chegwin said it would probably go to Eastleigh.

Festival events also takes place at The Ashcroft Arts Centre and The Red Lion Hotel.

Receptionist of the Lysses Hotel Dawn Whitburn said: "We would miss the festival very much.

"They've filled us up for three days.

"Usually we are quite quiet over the Easter break."