ANOTHER community festival has been axed because of financial cuts.

Blackheath’s two-day Bike and Kite Festival has been a popular attraction on the heath in recent years, attracting 25,000 people in 2010.

But this year’s event, organised by Lewisham Council, has been axed as cuts start to bite.

The Blackheath Society has written to the council urging it to reinstate the event for next year.

Chairman Howard Shields said: “It’s a crying shame.

“We found out about three weeks ago but ti wasn’t announced in any way.”

A Lewisham Council spokesman said: “There is no budget available for Bike and Kite this year.

“Staff have been reduced and the safe and successful delivery of the event is no longer viable.”