ICE cream firms have hit out at the sky-high fees for events such as Blackburn's Arts in the Park after the price of a cone hit £2.

And it was revealed that local firms are refusing to enter the tendering process for council-run events because they don't want to let loyal customers down with "outrageous" price rises.

Arts in the Park, which finished on Sunday, is a free annual two-day event at Witton Country Park funded by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

This year's event was attended by record crowds of 25,000 and Andy Scott-Lee, Dario G and The Lightning Seeds were among the acts which people flocked to see.

But local ice cream firms said that in previous years they had to pay up to £500 to put a van at events such as Arts in the Park and that was the reason prices rose.

The council is now set to review its organisation of the event.

The owner of one Blackburn firm, who asked not be named said: "The council does not seem to care that we have to charge a fortune if we are to make up the money from our tender.

"It was £500 last year to secure a stand.

"To make that, you have to charge £2 for a cone, which would normally be 60p.

"And that is what they did this year.

"It is supposed to be a free event but then the ice cream cornets are triple the price.

"And the customers have no choice other than to buy from the vans that are there.

"None of the local firms take part as they would get stick from their regular customers.

"We can't justify the prices to them.

"We are missing out on our local events, which as local firms we should be benefiting from."

Another owner of an East Lancashire firm, who also asked not to be named added: "We don't send our vans to Arts in the Park or any other events. It is not economical for us.

"We wouldn't make enough money for it to be worth it.

"The small local firms like us who have a reputation to keep are being frozen out.

"To take part we would have to charge a fortune. And you can't rob your customers and keep a reputation."

All catering at this year's event was provided by one firm, based in Bolton.

When asked if the council thought it was reasonable to charge £2 for an ice cream cone, executive member for culture, leisure and sport for the council, Councillor John Milburn would only say: "This year the council invited companies to tender for providing the full catering requirements for Arts in the Park.

"This included ice cream sales.

"We will be carrying out an evaluation later this week to discuss this year's Arts in the Park event and this will include whether or not we will invite tenders for all-round catering next year."