A Bridgnorth event facing the axe over insurance costs may be saved after council bosses agreed to meet organisers.

Under new rules, the St Mary’s Street Open Garden Day must have public liability insurance.

But this would cost about £2,000 and volunteers say paying it would wipe out all the money raised at the event, which normally goes to charity.

St Mary’s Street Residents’ Association, which organises the day, issued a plea to Bridgnorth Town Council for its help to overturn the decision by Shropshire County Council.

Now county council chiefs have said they hope to discuss the matter with the association.

A spokesman said: “It is the county council’s policy to ensure that event holders have sufficient public liability insurance in place to safeguard them should an incident or accident occur.

“The council will be discussing the position further with the organisers in the hope of ensuring that the event is able to take place.”

At a meeting on Tuesday, town clerk Kathy James said Shropshire County Council was insisting the event would need insurance cover for £5 million. She added: “That would cost £2,000 which is the amount they raised for charity last year.”

Town council members agreed they would write to the county council to ask if the event could be spared from taking out the insurance.