AN ARTISTIC competition which has attracted Europe’s best stone-stackers to Dunbar over the last two years could be at risk of being cancelled.

The European Stone Stacking Championships brought 3,500 spectators to the town last April, with a place in the World Stone Stacking Championships up for grabs.

However, James Craig Page, who co-organises the event, is on the lookout for financial support amid concerns it could be cancelled.

Mr Page said cancelling the event, which is due to take place again in April, would be the “worst-case scenario”.

He said: “We are really keen to keep it in Dunbar as well.

“It ties in with John Muir’s birthday celebrations and Earth Day, which is a celebration of nature and everything connected with the earth.

“We’ve already had competitors from Egypt, Sweden and Spain wanting to sign up.

“People are keen to come across and we got worldwide publicity last year.”

That saw the competition, which was won by Pedro Duran, featured on BBC television.

Previously, East Lothian Council has helped with funding for the event but, according to Mr Page, the council is unable to do so this year.

Instead, he is looking for other businesses and individuals to come forward and help with the two-day event, which costs about £7,000 to hold.

Mr Page, who has lived in Dunbar all his life, said the event, which is organised by Dunbar Street Art Trail, helped boost a number of businesses in the town.

He told the Courier: “I think about £250,000 came into the community through travel and people from abroad booking hotels. It is beneficial for the community.”

The 53-year-old artist encouraged members of the public or any interested parties to get in touch to see if they could help financially or as a volunteer with the event.

He added: “The benefits of stone-stacking are reconnecting with nature and also with your own creativity.

“It is a very creative form of meditation and it is very good for the mind, body and spirit.

“You just feel much more peaceful and calm when coming away from the beach.”

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “We provide a number of supporting mechanisms for events taking place in East Lothian, including direct marketing support and signposting to external funding opportunities.

“In addition, the event planning and safety arrangements give a single point of contact to help ensure that event organisers deliver events that are safe and well-managed.”

Visit stonestacking.co.uk/european-stone-stacking-championships