A BIG rise in the cost of this year's Stockton Riverside Festival (Sirf) is being put down to a one-off payment.

The cost of the festival rose from £310,610 in 2014 to £476,167 this year which Stockton Borough Council leaders said was down to a one-off payment of £150,000 to commission a special show, Instant Light, which told the story of how the friction match was invented in the town.

However, the Labour-run authority was still criticised by Conservative councillor for Hartburn, Matthew Vickers, who pointed out that the council is likely to shed 400 jobs in the coming years due to cutbacks.

He said: "This is not about cancelling a festival which has been a success for 27 years, it’s about the council controlling its expenditure. When times are tough, I believe the council should look to protect jobs and the services it offers to the community before increasing spending on the festival.

“This council should prioritise jobs and community services instead of spending on fireworks and bubbly.”

But Councillor Norma Wilburn, the authority’s Cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, said: “Sirf is a world-class event enjoyed by tens of thousands of residents and visitors every year who spend around £1m in the local economy while they’re here.

“I’d say that’s a pretty good use of our resources and when surveyed, 70 per cent of our residents’ panel agreed.”

The 2015 festival attracted crowds of 68,000 - up 8,000 on last year.