A COMMUNITY is rallying together after it emerged that thousands of pounds are missing from the funds to stage an annual procession.

The future of this year's Barnard Castle Meet looked uncertain after police launched an investigation into alleged irregularities into the meet's funds.

A local man was arrested and released on bail following the claims and a police inquiry is continuing.

With only seven weeks to go until the meet takes place, residents and businesses are desperately trying to raise the £7,000 needed.

Andy Power, Black Horse landlord and chairman of the town's Pub Watch scheme, said: "A group of businessmen and local people approached me last week and we believe that there is no way we should allow this to die.

"Events like the meet are important to the economy in a place like Barnard Castle. As licensees, we are directly affected, just like many other businesses in the town.

"I am absolutely gutted and, on a personal note, I have given £500 to the fund and obviously that is gone.

"But we are going to make sure that this is going ahead.

"The Pub Watch members will be discussing what we can do to help but we are looking to anyone to come forward and get involved."

Support for the meet is already growing and a number of collection buckets have started appearing in the town's shops, pubs and supermarkets.

Meet committee chairman, Rowan Jeffries, said: "We are certainly not in as dire straits as we thought we were three weeks ago.

"The response from the public, since they became aware of the difficulty, has been very strong."

Inspector Kevin Tuck, of Barnard Castle Police, said: "We can confirm that the meet committee has asked us to look at its finances and some alleged irregularities.

"A local man has been arrested and is on police bail pending further inquiries."

Any interested parties are invited to attend a meeting to discuss funding issues at 5.30pm today in the Black Horse Pub, on Newgate, Barnard Castle.