A TOWN could pull out of the West Wilts Show over a row about live music at the event.

Melksham Town Council discussed plans to withdraw from the biennial event on Monday after West Wiltshire District Council made a request for exhibitors not to stage live music in their marquees.

Melksham councillor Nick Westbrook said: "If you don't get people into the tent then it's a complete waste of effort.

"We need to give some serious consideration whether we go ahead."

A spokesman for the district council said: "We have said to the towns that we would prefer them not to have live music.

"We had difficulties in 2001 with entertainment taking place around the marquees which was not scheduled."

The district council said the decision on live performances was in the hands of the town councils.

"They are part of the show steering group so all they've got to do is to come back to the steering group and put forward their case," the spokesman said.

"We want to have a full programme of entertainment but we want to avoid conflicts that we had in 2001."

Town clerk John Crook denied reports Melksham was considering pulling out of the event, emphasising that it was the view of a couple of councillors but had not been voted on.

Mr Crook, who is part of the steering group, said: "I will be reporting back to the council that we can have live music as long as it's linked into the main event."