Lack of financial support from the government is being blamed for the decision to scrap the Peel Viking Festival.

Its organiser Jonathan Irving announced last week he had given up trying to promote events in Peel, blaming lack of support and complaints from locals

He had previously lashed out at the Department of Tourism and Lesiure over its refusal to underwrite a second Peel Bay Festival.

Now a supporter of the Viking Festival and local commissioner Rodger Gimbert (pictured) has joined the row.

He says the tourism minister seems to favour Douglas (audio file attached):

Rodger Gimbert was speaking to Dan Davies on Talking Heads.