£1 deal saves Festival of Water and Light

A popular waterways festival in Brierley Hill has been saved after an events company offered a £1 fee to take it on.

Staffordshire-based CCEM has struck a deal with Dudley Council to buy the rights to host the annual Festival of Water and Light at the Waterfront.

The event attracts more than 12,000 people every year.

Boating enthusiasts were left disappointed when this year's event was cancelled last month due to funding difficulties – but CCEM, based in Tamworth, has agreed to take on full responsibility for all future events.

Council leader Les Jones is expected to formally sign off the agreement on Tuesday – and today welcomed the deal as "good news" for the popular event.