MINEHEAD is all set for a three-day Christmas Festival spectacular this weekend - despite the event reportedly going over-budget.

Over Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be the Christmas Lights Switch-On, Santa’s Grotto, plenty of street entertainers, live music and the return of the funfair.

However this week Minehead BID revealed it received a request from the event organisers seeking assistance to deal with ‘elevated costs beyond the original budget’.

An emergency Minehead BID meeting was convened on Friday, November 22 with a presentation made by members of Gateway Events.

Minehead BID manager Andrew Hopkins said: “Having carefully considered this proposal the Minehead BID Board agreed that they have provided an appropriate level of funding on behalf of the BID levy payers.

“In the absence of exact figures, the board agreed not to commit further BID funding.

“This decision is informed by the safety concerns that have come to light through the Safety Advisory Group process, a lack of definite financial information about the extra costs involved, and broader concerns around the general principles applied in organising the event.

“However, the BID believes that their financial contribution of £4,000 adds value to the event for on-street entertainers.

“While we are unable to enhance our financial contribution, we wish Gateway Events every success for the event and hope that it will be deemed a success by the public and by BID levy payers.”

The festival begins on Friday with a lantern procession at 6.30pm on The Avenue before the lights switch-on at The Old Hospital at 7pm.