A QUESTION mark is looming over the future of a popular Burnham sports event. The Stert Island Swim, which is held every August, could soon be cancelled after one of its financers said it would not be running the event.

A QUESTION mark is looming over the future of a popular Burnham sports event.

The Stert Island Swim, which is held every August, could soon be cancelled after one of its financers said it would not be running the event.

Sedgemoor District Council is looking at making cuts to various services after announcing a £1.8million budget shortfall last year and will probably not be giving money to the 2008 event.

Leisure manager Nigel Roderick said: "We are very unlikely to be running the event ourselves in 2008 but there is a triathlon club that is considering running the event instead. The chairman is in talks with committee members at the moment to see if they want to take it on.

"We fund part of the event put money also comes from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council and obviously the RNLI and BARB are a massive help on the day.

"I cannot say what will happen for definite yet."

The summer event is very popular, attracting more than 3,000 spectators. Swimmers taking part brave the chilly Bristol Channel waters to swim from Burnham Beach to Stert Island and back.