Organisers of The Watford Festival of Music, Speech and Drama has warned it is at risk of being cancelled.

The event, first established over 70 years ago, offers people the chance to perform music, speech and drama in front of live audiences.

But organisers have warned it may be cut due to a lack of volunteers.

They wrote: "This would mean that many young people would lose the opportunity to showcase and share their skills in performance arts and a wonderful festival will sadly come to an end of 70 years.

"If you or anyone you know have a love and passion for theatre and would like to volunteer your time in the run up to and over the period of the festival then please get in touch by emailing sdteam@watfordfestival.co.uk."

The event is held in February and March and receives hundreds of entries each year, according to its website.

There are classes for adults and children, which are divided into sections: chloral, vocal, pianoforte, strings, carnatic, woodwind and brass, and speed and drama.

Entrants compete against each other in chosen categories and gold medalists from each group then battles it out in the finale where an overall winner is chosen.

During the previous live events the Speech and Drama section had more than 1,000 entries with around 3,500 visitors, according to one of the organisers.

Before the pandemic it was held at the Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre with the finale at Watersmeet in Rickmansworth.