The organisers of Didcot’s Christmas street fair have accused town council leaders of Scrooge-like behaviour after they failed to provide grant funding for the first time in 18 years.

Each year, there is a themed parade and a street fair filling Broadway and last year the celebration attracted more than 20,000 visitors.

But the fair costs organisers about £16,000 to stage every year and is funded by a series of fundraising events and grants.

Jeanette Howse, chairman of Didcot Christmas Street Fair, a former chairman of Didcot Chamber of Commerce, said this year’s fair has a fantasy theme with a parade featuring characters from The Wizard of Oz.

She added: “We asked the town council for a grant of £600 but they have not given us a penny.

“If organisations see that the town council is not giving us any grant then they might follow suit. Last year we had Charles Dickens’s grandson opening the fair and this year the town councillors are behaving like Scrooge.

“The town council said our balances were too healthy but that is simply not the case. We have raised about £8,000 so far but we are still about £8,000 short.”

Leader of the town council Margaret Davies said: “The street fair committee did not indicate that they needed the money to pay for this year’s event – they asked for a grant to increase their reserves.

“Once they have used up those reserves we will happily grant-aid them again.

“The town council provides the Christmas street lights in Didcot at a cost of £18,000, so we are very supportive of festivities in the town.

“We also distribute annual grants of about £25,000 to local organisations.

“We have every sympathy and support for the Christmas Street Fair and the event undoubtedly benefits Didcot, but the committee did not appear to need the money this year.”