Sidmouth’s annual FolkWeek has received a £2,000 boost ahead of this year’s festival.

Councillor Stuart Hughes has donated the money out of his county council locality budget to support which he says is ‘part of the life’ of the town.

FolkWeek, which is the country’s oldest festival, received a prestigious blue plaque earlier this month for its contribution to music.

Cllr Hughes said: “I always support FolkWeek and the festival. Ever since I moved to Sidmouth it has been part of my live and its part of the life of Sidmouth. It brings so much into the local economy. I take my hats off to the organisers for the amount of work they put in. It brings theses artists and a lot of local people and long may it continue.

“It’s one of the reasons it has been recognised with the BBC blue plaque award which I was delighted they were recognised for and I hope that award will bring more people to the town.

John Braithwaite, festival director, said it was important to have the support of the town, district and county council.

He said: “I think it is fantastic for us to have not only the money but to have the support of Devon County Council, we are delighted. It’s really important to have DCC’s support in this era of cuts and reductions.”