FEARS over the future of a popular Festival of Remembrance were allayed today by the business set to take over the entertainment side at York's Barbican Centre.

Festival organiser and president of the York branch of the Royal British Legion, Ted Griffiths, 84, of Hempland Lane, said that he was concerned for the future of the festival after it was announced that the Barbican Centre, where the event has been held since 1990, is to be sold and refurbished.

He said: "The problem is that there is nowhere else in York suitable to hold it. Until such time as I speak to the new owners I don't know whether it will be a viable proposition." But Tony Knox, managing director of Absolute Leisure, the company which is set to run the entertainment programme at the Barbican Centre, told the Evening Press: "I am sure that there is absolutely no reason why the festival should not go ahead.

"We are planning to have a meeting with local groups in the next couple of months to discuss the events programme."

Mr Griffiths said he was pleased at the news and was "keeping his fingers crossed" that the festival will be able to carry on.

After plans to sell the Barbican Centre go ahead, the auditorium will be closed for six months for refurbishment. It is expected to reopen by October 2004.

Coun Keith Orrell, City of York Council's executive member for sport and leisure, said: "There are obviously lots of issues around the use of the Barbican once it has been sold, but it is in the interests of the new owners to keep existing customers on board."

This year's festival was also in doubt when some of its principal performers were sent to war in Iraq.

The Normandy Band of the Queens Division were posted to the Gulf earlier this year, but have now returned to the UK.

Mr Griffiths said: "They are a great crowd-puller and I am very pleased they are coming to the festival."

The York Sea Cadets will also be taking part in this year's festival, which will take place at the Barbican on Sunday, November 2, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the Barbican box office and are priced at £6 to £8, with concessions.

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, September 16, 2003