WELLINGTON Food Festival, visited by thousands of people and seen as the flagship event in a programme to put Wellington on the map, could be in trouble because of a lack of sponsorship.

This year's Christmas event to help Wellington's hard pressed businesses by giving the town a shot in the arm has so far failed to attract sponsorship, despite a campain to find backers.

The event is due to take place on December 5.

John Pragnell, chairman of Wellington Food Town, which is also touting for sponsorship for a food event next summer, said the current depressed economic climate had hit the festival's prospects.

He said: "We are ready to go. We just need the backing to make it happen."

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