A POPULAR annual music event narrowly missed being cancelled owing to a funding crisis blamed on a lack of support by Darlington Borough Council.

The musical Picnic in the Park, at Hurworth Grange, which attracted more than 1,000 people last year, has been scaled down by the village community association because of insufficient funds.

Borough Coun Roderick Burtt, who represents Hurworth, blamed the fundraising crisis on the council's lack of help for rural communities and the removal of financial aid for village halls.

He said: "This is another really obvious example of where the urban bias of the council works to the detriment of the rural areas.

"The people of Hurworth got this picnic going as a means of fundraising for the community centre after the council stopped some of its funding.

"But since then, further support has been taken away from Hurworth Grange, and all the support is being taken into the town and being spent on things like youth projects.

"I wasn't aware the community association was intending to reduce the scale of the picnic. It's a great shame.

"If the financial support from Darlington Council had been there, the event wouldn't have to be profit-making or cancelled on a large scale.

"What the council has to remember is that there are other people in Darlington borough apart from youths."

After regular sponsors withdrew, Hurworth Community Association decided to reschedule a smaller concert. No date has been set, but it is expected to take place at the beginning of August.

Chairman of the association, Dave McBeath, said: "This year we are going to fund it ourselves, which means it will be a smaller event."

The postponement means that opera star Susannah Clarke will not be able to perform at the event. Her appearance has been a boost for the event in the past two years.

A council spokeswoman said: "Support is available for village halls and community centres. If they can come to us with a programme of youth activity that can take place there and it can be developed, we will consider it as an opportunity.

"We do sympathise with their plight, and if they want to come and talk to us for advice about getting alternative sponsorship they can."

Stone thieves abandon haul

POLICE are hunting two thieves who fled over fields, leaving behind a lorry load of stolen goods.

The pair were driving a Ford tipper truck when they were spotted by police on a road at Woodland, near Barnard Castle, in the early hours of Saturday morning. Suspicions aroused, the officers followed the black and white E-registration truck, when it swerved off the road and screeched to a halt, leaving the two to make a getaway.

In the back, police found a large amount of Teesdale stone roofing slates and two five-barred gates, which had earlier been stolen from a farm near the village.

Police are trying to trace the last known owners of the truck and would welcome any information on 01833 637328.