AN estimated 10,000 people packed the streets for this year's hugely-successful Folk Festival in Chippenham and that was just on Monday.

Among the visitors were people from as far away as Tokyo and the United States.

But this year, as always, the festivities were marred by just one cloud.

Despite huge crowds and sell-out gigs, the festival looks set to meet its costs but only just.

This year, like every year, the organisers must wait on tenterhooks to see if all their efforts have enabled them to break even.

Now organiser Bob Berry is calling on Chippenham's people to put an end to the uncertainty once and for all.

He wants to the townspeople and its businesses, to finally get 100 per cent behind the festival and in doing so, make it even bigger and better for the future.

"The festival is a Mecca for legions of people who tour the national festival circuit each year," said Mr Berry.

"But each year, despite its popularity, the team involved in arranging it have to literally keep our fingers crossed to see if we can manage to cover our costs.

"People from outside the town love it, while locals visit, but don't really get that involved. As a result, we struggle to get it organised and to balance the books afterwards.

"But we think it's a missed trick. "Lots of businesses make money from visitors, but there is an opportunity to do so much more.

"We're not just asking for people to put their hands in their pockets although we do need more donations.

"More than that, we're looking for local people who can offer services and practical help, to make the festival even better whether that means local builders offering to put up some boards, people wishing to donate money or even just shops putting up signs offering their support to the festival."

Thanks to the year-round work of the

35-strong festival team, about 60 per cent of the costs of the festival are covered by season tickets and ticket sales to the concerts.

But 40 per cent is scraped together from concessions and donations.

"We spend around £85,000 a year arranging the festival," said Mr Berry.

"This year, our official collectors received just £2,500 in donations.

" Of course there are people and concerns who are very generous. Wavin give us so much, for no real gain. And we do receive a statutory donation, but it isn't much.

He said he did not think people realised they could help the festival without spending money but simply by offering their services.

But the festival's future is safe, as despite its continuing financial problems, Chippenham Folk Festival continues to bring in the crowds. This year's event was no exception.

"There were a few showers, but there was so much fun and a fantastic atmosphere," said Mr Berry.

The folk festival not only boasts four days of traditional song, dance and music, but also the chance to see some of the world's top music stars, performing live. More than 50 acts from throughout the UK and Europe all descended on Chippenham to perform on the main stage area in River Island Park.

"The music stars appearing at this year's festival are famous throughout the world," said Mr Berry.

"The Carthy family, for example, are huge throughout Europe and having them play here was a real honour."

Many forms of traditional dance also pulled in the crowds.

Chippenham Morris, Rapper Sword and a group of Apalachian dancers from America were just some of the highlights. Schoolchildren took part in morning workshops and then performed their clog and Morris dancing in the High Street and Neeld Hall.

And this year's parade, according to Mr Berry, was the best yet. "I stood on the town bridge and watched the crowds part as the dancers made their way down to the island it was a fantastic sight," he said.