THE future of an annual charity event held in Malvern for almost 30 years could be in doubt if sponsorship is not found.

The 28th annual Combined Charities Fair takes place in The Forum, at Malvern Theatres, tomorrow (Saturday). However, for the first time a sponsor has not been found, leaving organisers Community Action to foot the £2,000 bill.

More than 40 charities of all types, from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and St Richard's Hospice to 1st Malvern Link Scouts, will be at the event.

But Community Action chief officer Mike McKnight said that unless sponsorship interest picks up, the organisation would have to look at the future of the event.

"We are optimistic that next year we can get sponsorship," he said.

"However, if it's not forthcoming, the bill for this is not something we can keep picking up."

The fair opens at 10am and runs until 3pm. Admission is 50p.

A similar event in Malvern Link also takes place tomorrow (Saturday), thanks to an unfortunate clash of dates. The Charities Mini Market, at the United Reformed Church hall, runs from 10am to noon.

Rose Worth, who is helping to organise the event, was confident that the public would support it.

"People that live around Malvern Link know that this happens and we usually get quite a lot of people," she said. The Link event features the Animal Welfare Trust, Cancer Research UK, Canine Defence League, Malvern Royal British Legion, Malvern Singers, Pickersleigh WI and Plum Tree Women's Project.