AROUND £24,000 was handed over to a variety of charities and organisations at a cheque presentation to mark the end of the Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival.

The festival, first launched in 1997, attracted around 30,000 people into the town over a three-day weekend at the end of May.

But rising costs, and a lack of volunteers, has meant its chair, Debbie Cotton, has called time on the event which was due to be held for the 21st time next year.

Debbie distributed the 18 cheques, along with Yarmouth harbour master Tim Adams, at a ceremony at the Royal Solent Yacht Club.

She said: "The festival was always supposed to be a community event, but for a variety of reasons we can no longer go ahead.

"The committee asked organisations to apply for these grants and so that we could give back what is left in our kitty.

"I would also like to thank everyone who has helped us out over the years including Wightlink, the harbour commissioners, Watermark, Southern Vectis, Yarmouth Town Trust and Yarmouth Town Council.

"But this now gives someone else in Yarmouth an opening to try something else for the town at that time of the year."

Chris Beane, who collected a cheque on behalf of Sea Songs and Shanties, said: "We will be running another shanties weekend at the end of May following our successful event this year.

"We will have 30-odd groups on The Green throughout the weekend."

The Solent Old Gaffers Association will also celebrate the 61st running of its annual sailing regatta in the harbour over the weekend.

Full list of recipients: Yarmouth Scouts (£2,000); Royal Solent Yacht Club (£1,500); Friends of St James' Church (£2,000); Cruse Bereavement Care (£600); Abbey Yarmouth Society (£1,000); Yarmouth Guides and Scouts (£2,000); Yarmouth Primary School (£1,000); Community Hall of Yarmouth and District (£2,000); FYT Bus (£2,000); Sea Songs and Shanties (£200); Yarmouth Town Trust (£2,000); Slipshod Singers (£300); Ability Dogs 4 Young People (£600); Yarmouth Sailing Club (£2,000); IOW Special Olympics (£1,000); West Wight Sports and Community Centre (£1,000); Wild Bird Rescue (£600); Yarmouth Pier Restoration (£2,000).