A MUSIC festival plagued with problems due to clashes with a council is now facing more adversity from organisers of another event.

The family behind the funfair at the 775-year-old Witney Feast have raised concerns that Witney Music Festival's fairground will pull people from its own.

Representatives from both events spoke passionately at a meeting of Witney Town Council on Monday evening - emphasising the key role their respective shows offer the community.

Bob Wilson, of Bob Wilson's Funfairs, said: "This will be the 775th year of that Feast fair - and that's a rather long time. We'd like to see it again for a few more.

"In all honesty, it isn't the easiest thing to organise. There are hundreds of people involved with the fair...

"It's very unique in the way it is presented and accepted by the community."

He said that the problem was financial and that it operated within a very narrow margin of profit - losing money on wet years and gaining it back in dry years.

Mr Wilson added: "I'm not against the festival. It could be a good thing. I'm sure it is. I'm sure a lot of people enjoy it.

"But it's come to my knowledge that a funfair goes with that festival. Now, it would always have an effect but a couple of weeks before the Feast would have a major effect."

He said the council's decision on the music festival would have long-term ramifications on the Feast.

Both events are held on The Leys, which is owned by the council.

The Witney Feast will run on September 10 and 11. The music festival usually runs in June but has this year been moved to August 17 and 18 to avoid clashing with repairs to land.

Organisers of the festival have consistently maintained that its event is primarily a music festival and not a funfair. They have also contested the argument that their event would have a major impact on the Feast.

Festival organiser and former chairman Derek West, speaking at Monday's meeting, said: "Within the 10 years I've been involved with Witney Music Festival I've witnessed the terrific enthusiasm for the event shown by people throughout West Oxfordshire. The sense of enthusiasm is not just for the entertainment - that it provides very well - but for the sense of community that it engenders."

Also raised during the meeting were fresh concerns about timings of the music festival.

Last year the council clashed with organisers over closing times and councillors.

Organisers became concerned this year after being given new terms and conditions stating that all events on town council land must end at 10pm.

The Witney Music Festival group want music to finish at 11pm, the fun fair to finish at midnight and an after show 'chill out' event to run until 2am.

Mr West questioned councillors on why they would want to impede the music festival's success.

Discussing timings, town councillor Dean Temple said: "Over the years, 10pm has been the natural end time for events and the music festival had an 11pm finish because, while it was traditional to end at 10pm, it wasn’t in the terms and conditions. That’s since been rectified.

"I’m wavering between my absolute desire to help Witney Music Festival as much as I can, while respecting other events. I believe all events should be treated the same and apply the rules fairly."

The council will make its final decision on timings for Witney Music Festival on May 9.