Organisers will have to pick up the bill for cleaning up after this year's Onion Fayre.

Town councillors and the private street cleaning company say they can no longer afford to shoulder the cost of sprucing up the centre after 12,000 visitors have left.

Both have agreed to make a contribution towards the cost of cleaning up the rubbish after what is being billed as Gloucestershire's largest one day festival.

But the new look organising committee will have to dig into their coffers to cover most of the costs this year.

Newent Town Council used to pay workers overtime to clean up after the Onion Fayre when it ran the street cleaning service.

Managing director Clive Hinton of Forest Equipment Services won the contract two years ago and agreed to do the job for £100.

But he says he can no longer keep shelling out double time for workers and has asked for a £500 contribution towards the cost.

"£500 barely covers the wages and there are other costs as well," said Mr Hinton.

The council said it could only afford £100 and told organisers to dip into their reserves.

Onion Fayre spokesman Andy Offord said he doubted organisers would be too upset because they have been told that they will not have to pay the huge bill for policing the event.

Former Newent Community School pupil and TV journalist Anna Brees will open the fayre on September 13.