Organisers are calling for action amid concerns over the future of Whitstable’s Oyster Festival.

The town is set to come to life with music, parades and competitions from July 23 to 29.

But volunteer group the Whitstable Oyster Festival Association (WOFA) is worried that this could be the final year due to cuts in council funding.

This will be the third and final year of Canterbury City Council's contract with organisers The Event Umbrella, and WOFA chairman David Roberts is appealing for new arrangements to be made for the festival to survive.

He said: “It has become very important, providing summer entertainment for residents and visitors and helping to sustain the town’s growth and popularity.

“But due to pressures on local government there is no certainty regarding future funding.

“I have already noticed that the trend seems to be to let the community finance non essentials, like the Christmas lights, and this causes me some concern.

“Although the volunteers make a valuable contribution, they cannot take responsibility for the risks involved in providing entertainment to thousands of people.

“This is now a job for a commercial company and they have to get some financial return otherwise the festival is not worth taking on.”

But he said there would be challenges finding a willing company and suggested local businesses could help the situation.

He said: “This challenge is made even more difficult because of the lack of suitable venues in Whitstable where large events can be staged, coupled with the many operational restrictions in and around the harbour.

“We do seem to be in a Catch 22 situation whereby the festival is bordering on being too big to be managed by volunteers, but not big enough to be economically viable for a commercial organiser to take on.

“Perhaps the future of the festival will depend on the support it gets from all those businesses that benefit directly and indirectly from the festival.”

A city council spokesman said: "Once this year's festival and the contract has ended, we will review the last three years and decide on the future structure and funding for the festival.

"No decisions have been taken on these issues yet and for now, all efforts are focused on this year's event."

WOFA is looking for more volunteers and welcomes anyone interested to their annual general meeting in Whitstable Castle at 6pm on February 22.

Visit www.whitstableoysterfestival.co.uk to get in touch or for more information about this year’s event.