Sponsor's decision to pull out places medieval event in jeopardy.

KENDAL'S colourful medieval market is under increased threat after the event's main private sponsor pulled out from funding the 2005 event.

The market, which this year attracted 30,000 visitors to the town, is financed by a combination of sponsorship, council grants and charging traders for stalls.

Medieval Market Committee members believe that the event contributes an extra £50,000 to retail trading in Kendal.

But over the last years the committee has reported losses of £870 in 2002; £954 in 2003 and £687 in 2004.

Now Kendal's Westmorland Shopping Centre, the event's main private sponsor, has pulled out from providing the £1,000 of funding which it usually gives to the annual event.

Committee chairman John Studholme said that the decision to continue with the market could not be taken until the committee was assured there was enough funding available.

"Until we can be assured that the costs can be covered we will not persist with the market," Mr Studholme said. "The town would lose out in terms of promotion. It gets a lot of publicity from the market and a lot of businesses benefit. It is a good service for promoting local charities such as Kendal Mountain Rescue."

The Medieval Market Committee has also issued surveys to the town's retailers asking whether they benefited from the event 80 per cent of retailers said they wished the market to continue and six retailers said they would consider sponsorship of the event. But Mr Studholme said the fact that the Westmorland Shopping Centre had pulled out had put the event under increased threat.

"We are very disappointed, it was unexpected and it has made things much more difficult for us to see the way forward. We do need a major, private sponsor or additional public funding because the amount we get at the moment is very small," he said.

Martin Pickering, operations manager for the Westmorland Shopping Centre, confirmed that funding would be withdrawn from the market for next year.

"It was the money belonging to the tenants and they decided at a recent meeting that they did not want it going in that way any more," he said.

The Medieval Market Committee will meet on November 7 to decide whether the market will go ahead in 2005.