THE future of a popular summer festival near Cheddar is hanging in the balance after organisers announced it is in danger of financial collapse.

THE future of a popular summer festival near Cheddar is hanging in the balance after organisers announced it is in danger of financial collapse.

The Big Green Gathering, an environmentally friendly festival held every August at the farm of Andy Wear, has debts exceeding its assets by around £150,000.

Although the account for the festival has an overdraft of £50,000, organisers still need to raise £100,000 to avoid being declared bankrupt.

A spokesman for the group said: "Licence conditions imposed by Mendip District Council and Avon and Somerset Police added about £120,000 to the cost of this year's event. Now the bills have come in it is clear that rather than the profit we might otherwise have expected, these extra costs have left us with a loss of up to £75,000.

"There is only limited time in which to act. Bills are already overdue for payment and our creditors need to have confidence that we can sort ourselves out to prevent any of them petitioning for the company to be wound up."

Event organisers are now calling for fans of the low carbon, eco-friendly festival to help out.

Fans are asked to either become a stakeholder, send a donation, buy merchandise or music downloads and keep an eye on the website for benefit concerts.

This year's event attracted about 20,000 people to Fernhill Farm, off the B3134 near Cheddar, and included a funfair, healing zone and a spirituality and philosophy zone.

To become a stakeholder or make a donation log on to www.big-green-gathering.com