Fury as Sutton Coldfield Christmas festival is cancelled after the town council refused to offer 'a penny' in funding

Boldmere Christmas Festival costs £24,000 to stage but brings in only £14,000 from stalls, funfair and street food. Organisers Boldmere Futures CIC asked Sutton Coldfield Town Council to cover the shortfall and were told the event was 'not financially sustainable'. After 14 years, the festival is now off for a second year running. Chair Paul Long called the parish council's decision 'extremely disappointing'.

Furious locals hit back: 'Scrooge is alive and well.'

Faversham in Kent has also scrapped its Christmas night market because of scaffolding on the Guildhall.