BARELY a week on from the huge success of the Swanage Blues and Roots Festival, work has already begun on the next event in March.

But organiser Steve Darrington is calling on the town to give more backing to the popular events or risk losing them.

Steve, who has organised eight big blues events in the town since 2001, relies totally on donations to put on the three-day festivals in Swanage.

And despite the huge crowds the carnivals attract, he feels businesses in the town could do more.

"It would be nice if the businesses that benefit tremendously from the festival, and don't have to pay anything out for it, could get involved," said Steve. "I am very grateful to the people who help already, but it seems a shame that those who benefit can't help as well.

"A lot of people come up to me and say well done' but it would be nice to get more support."

Swanage was again bustling last weekend for the first Blues and Roots Festival, an offshoot of the established Blues Festival in March.

Steve estimates each festival brings in around £100,000 to the town's bars, shops, restaurants and hotels.

"I've still failed, after eight festivals, to get companies to donate very much," he said. "People have to understand I am disabled and pay for a lot of it through my own benefit money. It is a hell of a lot of work and a little bit more money can make a big difference."

Steve admitted that last weekend's festival was something of a victim of its own success in terms of collecting donations from fans and punters.

He said: "The more successful we become, the less chance there is of getting money from people.

"It is so crowded, people can't find collectors with a bucket to put their donations in."

Steve is offering fans a second chance to donate by visiting bluesroots.org The eighth Swanage Blues Festivals will take place on March 7-9, 2008.