KENDAL was taken by storm on Bank Holiday Monday as the 15th Medieval Market drew an estimated 30,000 people to the town - but organisers have warned the colourful event may not run again if funding is not found, reports Ellie Hargreaves.

The annual market is financed by council grants, sponsorship and by charging traders for stalls, but chairman of the Medieval Market Committee John Studholme has criticised the town's retailers for their lack of support and Rural Regeneration Cumbria for declining funding.

"This year has been the worst ever for funding and we will end up with virtually nothing in the bank," said Mr Studholme.

"Whilst we are grateful to the Westmorland Shopping Centre and the small number of companies who have given their services free of charge, the level of sponsorship has been very disappointing.

"Apart from a few, the retailers of Kendal have been very apathetic to the event and the committee is not prepared to run the market into deficit.

"We are all hard-working volunteers with day jobs, and representation from the retail sector is conspicuous by its absence despite us constantly inviting them to be part of the committee."

John Owen, the Medieval Market's promotions co- ordinator, added: "It is a shame because I don't think the town realises the benefit 30,000 people can bring in and probably only will when Kendal reverts to being a ghost town on Bank Holiday Monday."

The comments come just days after Kendal town councillors criticised local retailers for refusing to sponsor the town's classic bus service the Kendal Klipper which has brought business to the town centre by way of a free bus service since 1998.

Rural Regeneration Cumbria dele-gated fund manager Michael Clarke said the market's application for funding did not fit the criteria, because the event was seen as being predominantly of benefit to traders, and the organisation believed that business owners should be supporting those type of events themselves.

The market committee will meet in July to review this year's event and decide on the future.