A BID by Wellington Choral Society for grant funding has fallen on deaf ears with members of the town council.

The society had applied to Wellington Town Council for a £2,000 grant towards the society’s performance of Bach’s St Mathew Passion on March 30 next year.

This time last year the council awarded the society a £3,000 grant as a contribution towards the cost of modifying its staging equipment.

But councillors were less than enthusiastic about giving the society more money.

Cllr Bob Bowrah said: “I’m a bit wary of supporting this. We supported them last year and if we supported them again who is to say they won’t be coming back again for more support next year.”

And Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “This grant isn’t going to help the society keep the lights on – this will be funding another show. We aren’t really here to subsidise ticket sales.”

Cllr Will Brown said: “They should be asking for a loan rather than a grant.”