A decision to change the location of an annual winter festival at just over a month's notice has been criticised as "sneaky" by a business group.

The Winter Droving has been held in Penrith for more than a decade, but this year the live music, outdoor performances and twilight procession will take place 20 miles away in Carlisle on 24 October.

Eden Arts director Adrian Lochhead said organisers had been working "until the last minute" to keep the event in Penrith but it had not been possible for financial reasons.

However, Penrith Business Improvement District (Bid) accused Eden Arts of "sneakily organising" the move for some time, while the local council said it was "disappointed" at the news.

Lochhead told BBC Radio Cumbria the announcement did not happen earlier because they were "still trying" to stay in Penrith, but "it was becoming more and more impossible".

He said the charity lost £20,000 last year when windy weather saw the festival cancelled at less than 24 hours notice.

The parade portion of the event was eventually held in November.

Lochhead said: "Can we get back to Penrith next year? Please, let's be able to do that.

"But for this year it's about making another event in another part of the north of the county that everyone says needs more, so that's what we're trying to do."

Penrith Bid chair Dan Harding said he did not think the festival would return to the town and his group would look to do something "away from Eden Arts".

"We think Eden Arts have been sneakily organising this in the background for some time and they've been very poor in the communication," he said.

Westmorland and Furness Council said it had been a "long-standing" supporter, Eden Arts, which was one of the groups "receiving the highest amount of cultural grant from the council".

"We are very disappointed by this news and the short notice given," a spokesperson for the local authority said.

The council was seeking assurances from the charity that core funding provided this year would be used to deliver activities in the Eden area "in line with the funding agreement".

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