Bingley’s popular Christmas lantern procession has been cancelled because of a lack of Council funds.

Organisers say hundreds of people from schools and community groups usually take part in the annual event.

This year would have seen the town’s seventh procession but Bradford Council said it could not justify spending the £6,000 it would have cost on just one event.

Bingley artist Liz Palliser, one of the organisers, said: “The budget confirmation kept getting deferred this year, presumably because of the recession. It got to a position where we just couldn’t wait any more.

“The other two artists who work on it were turning down work without any security of this going ahead.

“It is very sad. It’s such a beautiful and unusual thing. This has disappointed a lot of children and adults.”

A smaller parade has been organised to replace the procession with groups bringing along some lanterns made in previous years.

The group will gather at the Myrtle Park bandstand at 5.30pm on Saturday, December 12, before walking down to Market Square for a carol concert at 6pm.

“It’s not the lantern procession, it can’t be considered as that but at least something is happening,” said Mrs Palliser.

“Where money is involved it’s very sad that the thing taken away is a community event when people need bringing together.”

David Dinsey, Bradford Council’s town centre manager for Bingley, said: “The lantern procession has become too expensive to justify its continued funding by the Council.

“This year we would have had to spend around £6,000 of the town centre budget on just that one event, so we took the decision not to fund it.

“However, we have funded the lanterns and Christmas carol singing in Bingley town centre at 6pm on Saturday, which should be an enjoyable event for everyone who attends.”

He said a decision will be made about funding the 2010 event next year.