Organisers of next week’s Queen of the Solway Dance Festival in Maryport have hit out at a lack of facilities at the town’s Wave Centre.

Youngsters taking part in the five-day event at the Irish Street venue will have to use buses and a portable building as changing rooms.

Organiser Sandra Chapman was told by Wave Centre bosses that it had insufficient facilities to cope with the 130 young dancers who will take part in the competition.

Mrs Chapman said: “Since Clip ’n Climb and the Cave at the Wave were introduced, dressing room space has been reduced drastically.

“Last year the Wave gave us a bus but this year they don’t have it.”

She said she was concerned that the extra cost of hiring the portable building may eventually mean that local dance festivals would not be able to compete there.

She added: “We have nowhere else to go in Maryport.”

Three dance schools from Barrow have said they will use their own buses as dressing rooms to relieve the pressure.

Steve Hamer, general manager of the Wave Centre, said the introduction of Clip ’n Climb and Cave at the Wave had increased the footfall to the Wave and in Maryport.

He said it had reduced changing facilities but there was enough to accommodate large groups.

He added: “It is only this specific dance event, held in half term, that requires additional facilities.

“Over the past three years, we have liaised very closely with the Queen of the Solway dance team to ensure the festival goes ahead, accommodating the number of dancers taking part.”

The Queen of the Solway Dance Festival runs from Tuesday until Saturday from 8am. Spectators are welcome.