EAST Ayrshire culture could receive a double blow as the future of two showpiece events are under threat.

Both Mauchline Holy Fair and Cumnock Highland Games could struggle to stage their famous events in 2015 through lack of manpower.

There is also the question of funding as both events have used the last of their council grants.

Mauchline Holy Fair was held for its 13th year in May and attracted massive crowds to the village, but organisers - Mauchline Burns Club - are looking for help from local residents.

The Cumnock Highland Games is in a similar position.

As yet, nothing has been decided over the future of either event. Mauchline Burns Club meet next month and a decision will be made in due course. The Highland Games Committee will also meet next month to decide on its future.

The Burns Club need younger locals to help out. When they first started holding the Holy Fair most of the organisers were in their 50s.

Andrew Cooper, Secretary, said: “Most of us are over 70 now and we’re looking for younger people to get involved. It’s a bit of an age thing.

“There is some hectic manual work involved in organising the Holy Fair and next year we are not getting any funding from East Ayrshire Council.

“It’s most definitely under threat unless we can get external help.” The Highland Games take place this weekend, with a Tattoo on Saturday night and the Games themselves on Sunday.

Jim McMillan, of the committee, said: “We got £10,000 of funding spread over three years and this will be the last of it. Next year we start from scratch.

Lottery or Event Scotland but they will only fund us for advertising so unless we can get some funding from somewhere next year’s Games will be in danger.

“Nothing has been decided yet, we will see how this year goes and then decide in September.

“I don’t want to see it stop, the support from the public is definitely there.” A statement from East Ayrshire Council said: “The Council has, along with every other local authority, had to achieve significant savings in recent years and grants to local organisations have been affected by these cuts.

“Vibrant Communities work closely with a number of local organisations and encourage them to seek alternative funding streams to replace any Council funding that they may have lost.

“There are a number of sources where organisations can apply for funding. In the past Mauchline Burns Club and Cumnock Highland Games have benefited from grants from the Cumnock and Doon Valley Minerals Trust; while the Burns Club has also received funding from Event Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“Both organisations have been advised to explore Awards for All (Big Lottery Fund) and to look at new ways of securing revenue, for example a small donation from attendees to the Holy Fair or increasing the entry fee to the Highland Games. Seeking local sponsorship would also be a great way of securing the backing of local firms and additional revenue.

“Vibrant Communities and the Council’s Economic Development section will continue to support both organisations to secure a positive future for their events.” • For more on this weekend’s Highland Games, see pages 12 and 13.