A STRAY tap under a bridge has left Bromyard Folk Festival facing a £1,000 bill for water the charity did not use.

The tap, across the football field from the festival site, may have been turned on by children.

The resulting bill will make a big hole in this year's profits.

"This situation is quite horrendous but the bill has now been paid," said spokeswoman Annie Jones.

"We can't prove that we didn't use it even though we know somebody turned the tap on.

"It's a lot of money and we're always only just covering our costs."

It is the latest blow to the voluntary organisers of the event, who in the past two years have faced losses because of the petrol crisis and foot-and-mouth.

This year it was expected that the good weather and 2,000 visitors would help the festival turn in a profit.