THIS year's Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show may have been the last.

The show, which started as the Netley Marsh Steam Rally in 1971, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity and there were initial signs that this year's event was another successful one.

But after carrying out thorough checks of the attendance receipts and other income against the near-£90,000 cost of running the event, the organisers have established that the show lost £11,000.

Increased expenses over two years have meant that the £20,000 which was in the kitty three years ago has now been used up and show secretary Tony Greenham said this week: "We are looking for a miracle.

"The show has failed to attract the people it needs to meet these ever-escalating costs and after failing to balance the books for the last three years, has a very bleak future."

One of the big items of additional expenditure has been the cost of meeting licence requirements and complying with variations as required by New Forest District Council, Mr Greenham said.

And he added: "Speaking to other Steam Rally organisers from around the country, the New Forest District Council is the only one that piles on the extras. For my part I think this will be the end of Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show."

On the initial belief that the show had been a success in terms of attendance, he explained: "This year we reduced the area of the show and put on more arena entertainments.

"This attracted a large number of people to gather around the arena and gave the impression that the weekend was a great success. Unfortunately when the figures were pulled together about a week later, we had a deficit of £11,000 bills over monies coming in.

One of the major problems in recent years has been the impact of the new entertainments licence on the Friday night prom concerts', which were a successful feature for over 30 years. Mr Greenham explained: Over the last few years the show has been introduced to the new entertainment licence by the NFDC in preparation for the full implementation in 2004-05. During that period, the requirements were steadily extended with various stipulations being added to the licence requirements, each adding to the cost of the event and reducing the funds being raised for charity.

"By 2004 the extra cost imposed by the licence rose to a figure of £15,000, the licence fee being £100. And in 2005 the evening was sponsored, but the cost had escalated to £20,000, with, in both cases, the musical entertainment being a separate cost in addition to the licence requirements.

"The show was no longer able to raise money for local charities, but on the contrary, the charity was starting to subsidise the evening entertainment.

"First the pleasure of the evening fireworks was withdrawn, and this year the musical promenade concert was dropped.

"A licence for a bar was granted, with an estimated 600/700 people attending (licence required an application for 999 people) at a fee of £100."

The requirements of that licence included 32 security guards (one for every 20 people attending) and the total cost was in excess of £5,000."

He added that show committee would be meeting to discuss the position and decide on the future of the event - if there is a future.