THE Pershore Jazz Festival, planned for this weekend has been cancelled due to lack of funds.

Organiser, Dutch Lewis said he was very disappointed that he had been forced to pull out this year, after two previous successful annual events but the action proved unavoidable.

Mr Lewis, of the Dutch Lewis Jazz group said: "We got millennium funding in 2000, and grants last year, but due to lack of sponsorship, and other problems with venues, we just had to cancel." All is not lost, however, everything possible is being done to bring the unique event, which includes a children's workshop, back to town next year.