A long-running music festival has been saved after a charity stepped up.

This year’s Ashford Festival in the Park was in doubt, after organisers were asked to shell out £2,000 to hire Civic Park from Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for the free event, or prove charitable or not for profit status.

However, ABC has now announced Find a Voice will step in to take on the administration of the event, which has been going since 2005.

As a charity, Find a Voice can pay minimal costs, and the council is advising on possible grants for the festival.

Cllr Heather Hayward, portfolio holder for performance and direction at ABC, contacted Sam Griffin, operations manager at Find A Voice, which supports those with communication difficulties, after she heard of the festival’s plight.

Cllr Hayward said: “I am so pleased we were able to find a way for this event to continue. I have supported Find a Voice’s work in the past and thought it might be an opportunistic pairing so got in touch with them.

“In teaming up with Find a Voice both parties can benefit each other and our residents and visitors can look forward to a fantastic weekend of free, local music.”

The festival has previously relied on donations from businesses and the public, with performers and volunteers giving their time for free.

Find A Voice loans communication aids, supports schools and provides lesson at their Beaver Lane centre, helping children and adults with a range of communication methods.

In her previous job, Ms Griffin assisted Ashford Festival in the Park, and said it made sense for the charity to step in.

She went on: “Find a Voice and I are thrilled to be able to join forces with the current festival organisers and ABC to enable this wonderful music festival to continue, hopefully for another 18 years! We want to ensure that the festival is still community focused and inclusive for all.”

Last week, Vernon Seager and Edward Lockett, who have organised the event 14 times, said it was unfair to have to fork out thousands to run the free event and they had no intention of charging people.

“We do not intend to start charging because there will be some families who cannot afford £2 to enter, or even 50p for their child to have their face painted,” Mr Lockett told KentOnline.

But the pair say they are happy the festival will now go ahead and they hope it will be the best one yet.

“I am glad we are putting a show on and it is going to be fantastic,” Mr Lockett said.

Mr Seager added: “We had no idea how passionately the community felt about the festival so we think they will be happy to know it is back on.”

This year’s event is set to run over the 25th, 26th and 27th of August.