A popular west London summer festival has been cancelled at the last minute following a row over traffic costs.

The Mela, which is held in Southall Park, attracts thousands of people every August Bank Holiday.

Now Ealing Council has called on the events organisers to provide extra help to control the volume of traffic expected.

But the organisers have said they cannot afford to pay the �23,000 required.

Five years ago they wanted to shut the Mela because too few people attended

Balvinder Kaur, organiser Chahal

The Mela, which comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "gathering", has been held in Southall Park for the past 50 years.

Ealing Council said it cost the council tax payer about �28,000 to manage the traffic attracted to the event.

Traffic diversions, cones and signs have to be set up and wardens employed to enforce any restrictions.

Praveen Bahl, head of events at Ealing Council, told BBC London the organisers had known since April that they would need to cover the cost.

'Support event'

Mr Bahl said: "This issue was being discussed with the organisers.

"They were aware of the need for the traffic order for a considerable period... certainly in detail since April this year."

He added: "We are certainly not opposed to the event, we very much support an event of this type."

Balvinder Kaur Chahal, chairwoman of the Southall Show Society which organises the Mela, is "saddened" that it has been cancelled.

Deadline passed

"I am really sorry and saddened to see its demise because for the last six to seven years I have been working very, very hard in order to raise its level," she said.

"We were in negotiations with the local authority about getting grant aid but during these negotiations the deadline for applying for it passed."

Ms Chahal continued: "Five years ago they wanted to shut the Mela because too few people attended.

"Now they want to shut it down because there are too many people."