PLANS to recreate this summer’s triumphant Diamond Jubilee celebrations have suffered a blow after failing to win the support of Malvern Town Council.

Organisers are hoping to use the same three-day format that attracted thousands of people for a new event called the “Festival of Malvern” next August.

Malvern Town Council backed the jubilee celebrations with grants totalling £4,285 to Malvern Civic Society, the jubilee organising committee and Great Malvern Association of Traders But on Tuesday evening, members of its operations committee decided not to support a request for a total of £5,050 and further administrative support for next year.

They voted instead to concentrate efforts on the council’s own Mayor’s Bonanza and St George’s Day events.

Mayor Ian Hopwood said: “There is no money in the precept for us to support it.”

Martin Burton, chairman of the jubilee organising committee, said: “In is an unexpected disappointment in light of the overwhelming desire from the community to do it again. But it is not a terminal blow.”