ORGANISERS of the Westcountry Balloon Fiesta this week warned the event faces an uncertain future unless new financial backing can be found to meet spiralling costs and red tape involved in staging the event. Held every August Bank Holiday in Tavistock, the event started in 1992 and is now among the top three hot air balloon fiestas in the UK each year. Run jointly by the Lions Club of Tavistock and Tavistock Round Table, the event raises money for South West charities and organisations — to date more than £100,000 has been raised since its inception. But organisers now say unless significant new financial backing can be found within the next two months, the 2008 event faces being drastically scaled down or, more seriously, cancelled due to ever rising infrastructure costs and bureaucracy. Steve Grummitt, fiesta spokesman, said: 'The Lions Club in Tavistock is very fortunate to have two balloon pilots among its members on the event organising committee and currently they voluntarily organise everything to do with the balloon aspects of the event up to the event weekend. 'The event then hires a specialist to meet CAA requirements, but for 2008, it seems that the regulations have been tightened further, meaning the additional personnel and costs for the event.' In 2007, the superb weather resulted in one of the best fiestas ever, with more than 150 balloon launches creating a stunning spectacle over the skies of the South West. The event had to be cancelled at short notice in 2005 due to newly imposed European restrictions on refuelling of the balloon gas cylinders. Since then, the event's balloon gas supplier Calor UK has invested in new equipment to allow balloon fiestas to continue, but the costs involved in hiring this for a non-commercial fund raising event are becoming prohibitive. Calor UK have helped over the past two years, but 2008 has seen the costs escalate both for equipment hire and the gas itself, with prices increasing by more than 50% on 2007 levels. In addition, increasingly stringent regulations mean from 2008, the event will be required to hire additional specialist personnel to co-ordinate the ballooning aspects of the event, such as launch site safety. The organisers estimate £6,000 is needed to help meet the costs involved in simply getting the fiesta infrastructure in place to enable it to take place in 2008. Attempts so far to attract new commercial support have failed to produce the necessary backing, so organisers are now launching a public appeal to businesses interested in helping maintain the event as a major Westcountry attraction. The event is seeking commercial sponsors who want to be involved in this high profile event, and can offer packages from £500 up to the full £6,000 with potential for balloon flights for sponsors. In addition, organisers are approaching both Tavistock Town Council and West Devon Borough Council to ask for their support. Anyone interested in finding out more or providing financial support should go to the website at http://www.westcountryballoons.com">www.westcountryballoons.com