WEYMOUTH Kite Festival WILL go ahead this year despite concerns surrounding sponsorship.

Organiser Michael McManus said a decision had been made to push forward following a positive response from kite fliers.

The Weymouth Kite Festival Weekend is a recurring feature on the borough's events calendar, taking place annually on the early May bank holiday weekend.

The festival used to be organised by the borough council but is now in the hands of the Weymouth Kite Festival Community Voluntary Group.

Despite the poor weather at last year's event, organisers received positive feedback from those in attendance.

Mr McManus began to make plans for this year's festival but initially ran into problems when finding sponsors.

He said: "With Larkin Windows going into receivership, they were one of my main sponsors and it is sad to see a local business going out of business.

"Some of the others that use me for sponsorship as well they have had to pull out because of the state of the economy, which I understand and do appreciate what they're going through.

"It left me with a decision because with so many people pulling out, do I go ahead or not?"

Working alongside the council, Mr McManus set a deadline last month to decide whether to go ahead with the festival.

Prior to this, Mr McManus got in contact with kite enthusiasts to gather their thoughts.

He said: "I decided to put messages out all around the kite world. The message was Weymouth Kite Festival is 95 per cent dead and buried because of the reasons I have stated.

"The only way we can carry this on is if members of the kite flying world are happy to attend Weymouth with no expenditure for coming down and no hotel costs.

"I have had a fantastic response. This is why we've decided it is going to go ahead."

Mr McManus said costs to book visiting kite fliers ranged between £3,000 and £6,000.

He said: "A lot of people don't realise we pay for the fliers to come down."

This year's festival will not feature a bungee jump but organisers are working to book dance groups and taekwondo groups to perform on the Saturday.

Plans are also in place to have an obstacle course, a musical bouncy dome, stalls, food village and fun fair.

Mr McManus said he was ecstatic the festival was going ahead but donations were still welcomed.

If you would like to contribute or provide donations to this year's festival, please email weymouthkitefestival@hotmail.com or call 07403598887.