A POPULAR town festival will be organised by a separate committee because it is taking too many resources from other tourism events.

Members of Upton-Upon-Severn’s Tourism and Trade Association decided to hand over its responsibility for setting up the Water Festival at its annual meeting this month.

A new group set up by Rowan Thomas of Pepperpot Pyrotechnics will now have to finance and organise the annual event.

The decision was taken after the association’s members - who put together the showcase summer event earlier this year, agreed it was affecting promotion of the town’s other attractions.

The association, which elected a new 10-member committee, will now focus on encouraging more visitors to the town.

People interested in helping organise next year’s festival should contact Mr Thomas on 07976 305096.