ONE of the New Forest's biggest summer festivals is again smarting after being refused district council cash.

The Waterside Arts Festival, which provides a fortnight of art, craft, music and drama in the Hythe, Fawley and Marchwood areas, applied to the district for a grant towards the running of the event.

But in the latest round of revenue grant awards, it was the only application that was rejected completely.

The festival, which costs £12,000 to put on, will be launched on June 29 and its grand finale will be an Abba tribute concert on Hythe Promenade on Saturday, July 13.

Following the revelation that there will be no grant from the district, Hythe's long-serving Hampshire and New Forest councillor Brian Dash said: "It was sad and somewhat embarrassing last year when the leisure portfolio holders and others described the festival as a carnival. They clearly haven't changed their view.

"To my knowledge, none of them had even been here to see the local and professional talent present its wide variety of arts during the fortnight.

"The hard-working people who spend a year planning this deserve better."

Festival co-ordinator Mike Robinson was disappointed but not surprised by the district's third successive rebuff, but reflected: "Three parish councils find it in their hearts to support us, as does Hampshire County Council.

"The festival will still go ahead, but we will have to cut back on what we do."

A district council officer's report described the need for a grant for the event as medium priority.