A popular annual event will no longer take place after more than 30 years.

The trustees of Tenterden Folk Festival have decided to stop running the four-day celebration, just days after this year’s gathering.

It began as Tenterden Folk Day on October 2 1993 with 15 billed guests and grew to 30 in two years following the founding of Tenterden Folk Day Trust.

It then rebranded in 1998 to Tenterden Folk Festival after events were spread across two days for the first time.

Since then, it has grown into a four-day event celebrating everything folk through art, music and crafts.

When it began, the festival cost about £2,000 to put on but this has increased dramatically, with this year's event costing more than £50,000.

This has forced a reliance on grants, calling its long-term future into question.

In a statement, trustees Alan Castle, Margaret White and Richard Cartwright said: “Following a highly successful Tenterden Folk Festival which took place from October 3-6, we are sad to announce that the trustees have decided not to continue to run this ever-popular annual event.

“This was an exceedingly difficult and emotional decision and was taken for a variety of reasons which are not all financial.

“The trustees felt that it was best to go out on a high while the festival is still a thriving popular event and still entirely solvent.

“We did not want to see it start to decline and struggle, so we made an incredibly sad decision at this time.

“Despite best efforts, the trustees have been unable to obtain any long-term funding or financial guarantees.

“As a long-standing, well-respected registered charity, the festival cannot take financial risks, which would ultimately become the personal responsibility of the three trustees. Therefore, few options remained.

“We are very grateful to everyone who has supported the Tenterden Folk Festival over the last 30-plus years, especially Tenterden Town Council, Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council.

“All the public houses and venues, all the businesses, trusts and organisations that have sponsored the festival or advertised in the programme, all our loyal and friendly suppliers, and of course the town and people of Tenterden.

“We would also like to thank all the artisans and traders who have taken part in the craft fair, the hundreds of Morris sides and folk dancers who have taken part, the guest artists, and all the singers and musicians as well as everyone who has attended the festival.

“The festival has continued to thrive, develop and grow, but the Trust has always remained true to its original charitable objectives.

“To preserve and advance public education and appreciation of traditional and contemporary folk music, song, dance and other related traditions, crafts and folk arts as a part of the living heritage.”

Despite the festival's cancellation, the trust has confirmed its monthly free Tenterden Folk Sessions and publication of Around Kent Folk magazine will continue.

It also confirmed it may promote smaller one-off events in the town, including barn dances, ceilidhs, and folk music concerts.