DAVID East has warned that the annual Colchester Cricket Festival must remain financially viable in order for it to continue.

However, the Essex County Cricket Club chief executive is confident the popularity of the event will help maintain its place on the club’s calendar.

The Castle Park event survived a cull last year, following an extensive review of the club’s two festivals.

But Southend Cricket Festival was axed after 105 years.

Essex are in town today for the start of their LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan.

And although East admitted that money is tight for everyone, he stressed that are no plans to scrap the popular festival.

East said: “Festival cricket remains a real battle financially.

“In this climate we have to scrutinise everything but we’re delighted to be at Castle Park again.

“Everything is assessed on a year by year basis, not just the Colchester Festival.

“We will review our scheduling but I don’t envisage any problems.

“However, it’s important that people continue to support it and it has to remain financially viable.”

Essex will be hoping to follow up their impressive victory at Kent last week with success over Glamorgan and have won three of their last four matches.

They currently lie fifth in division two and need more wins in order to push for a promotion place this season.

However, Essex will be without injured bowler David Masters and Charl Willoughby and Tom Craddock have been named in their squad for the game at Colchester.

“Castle Park is always a lovely ground for us to play at,” said East.

“I know that the players really enjoy playing there.

“It’s one of the most picturesque grounds in the country and I hope that the weather holds for us.

“We’re still pushing hard to try and get promotion.

“We had a good win at Canterbury last week where there was some low scoring and challenging conditions.

“But we came through it and that sets us up nicely for the Glamorgan game."

In addition to playing Glamorgan, Essex are also in action at Castle Park on Sunday when they take on the Netherlands in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition.

Play at Castle Park is scheduled to start at 11am today and on each of the four days of the Glamorgan fixture, with gates open from 9.30am.

The start time on Sunday for the Netherlands game is 1.45pm (gates open at 11.45am).