A CHARITY is outraged after it was asked to pay a fee to hold a stall at this year’s Armed Forces and Veterans’ Weekend.

The Riders’ Branch of the Royal British Legion, which has kicked off the weekend event in Trowbridge Park with a procession of around 20 motorbikes through the town centre for the past eight years, has been asked to pay £30 to hold its stall.

But the charity has refused to do so and will not feature at this year's event because all of the money it raises at the stall, through donations from members of the public and merchandise sales, goes to the Royal British Legion.

Mick Wakeling, merchandising representative, said: “We have never had to pay for a stand at this event before and we shouldn’t have to.

“We are a military charity which raises money for veterans – we shouldn’t have to fork out our own money when we are raising money for a good cause.

“It may only be £30 but it’s the principal of it. I think it’s disgusting and I know that a lot of other charities who have stalls at the event do too.

“Food stalls will be able to make that money back no problem but all of the money we make from donations and merchandise goes back to the Poppy Appeal.

“We are now asking nearby towns if we can hold our stall at their events instead.

“The procession is always really popular and it’s a shame we won’t be able to do it this year.”

Jon Wort, chairman of Wiltshire Armed Forces and Veterans, said the decision to start charging stallholders for the first time has been taken to help cover costs of the event.

He said: “When I took over two years ago I said we must have a level playing field at the event.

“We asked stallholders to contribute a small amount to allow the event to run, otherwise it would not be possible.

The event is funded by grants from the Ministry of Defence and Wiltshire Council.

The organisation’s secretary said: “The event attracts over 18,000 people over the weekend and the committee has to provide security, portaloos, insurance, barriers and so much more to ensure a safe and successful event – safety is paramount to both exhibitors and visitors.

“We appreciate the support The Riders have given us over the years and the chairman has been in discussion with them."