THE FIRST World Music and Folk Roots Festival planned for Darwen has been cancelled.

The three-day Roots 666 event was due to run from September 28 to 30 but organisers were forced to scrap the event this week.

A number of grant applications for funding were turned down and there were poor ticket sales, which forced organisers to make the decision.

Organiser Gary Ward, 33, said: "We have worked very hard trying to make this festival happen but a combination of poor ticket sales and unsuccessful funding applications has left us with no option but to cancel the event.

"I am bitterly disappointed about this. We felt that if we could get the first one out of the way then we believed that Roots 666 could develop into a large annual event, like Colne Blues festival."

Roots 666 was to be the first festival organised solely by Darwen Music Projects which had been the key organisers for Darwen Live.

The group pulled out of Darwen Live after the 2006 festival and earlier this year announced plans for Roots 666 which they dubbed as "the UK's most intimate micro festival".

Darwen-based singer-songwriter Natasha Lea Jones, town favourites Gone Beggin' and Blackburn-based jazz funk outfit False Negative were among those local acts due to perform alongside international stars from countries including Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo at Darwen Library Theatre.

Scottish folk act Luce Women, Chumbawamba Acoustic, Hotel Brown, The Lancashire Hotpots and leading Gambian instrumentalist Bajaly Suso were also booked.

Several of the artists had planned to hold music workshops at Knott Street Community Centre.

Elswick Street-based musician Gary said: "I think that the lack of a campsite and tourist attractions is a put off with regular festival goers.

"Darwen Music Projects will continue to organise events in the future despite this setback.

"We will think very hard before attempting another three day event but I am in no doubt that it won't be long before we organise something.

"In fact we are likely to be involved with the forthcoming Oxjam Darwen Festival at the end of October."

Those who have purchased tickets will be contacted by Darwen Library Theatre regarding refunds.