Organisers of one of Oxford's most popular events have been told to ask businesses for cash after the city council refused to hand over their full grant request.

The community-run Cowley Road Carnival has become one of the most colourful and multi-cultural summer celebrations in the county.

Last year Oxford City Council gave the event nearly £10,000.

This year East Oxford Action, which organises the one-day festival, will get £14,000, after asking for £19,000.

The executive said business contributions or surplus money in the local east area committee budget could make up the shortfall.

Organisers were also told that in future the carnival should be look at becoming self-sustaining.

Green group leader and east Oxford councillor Craig Simmons said: "The carnival is asking for more money -- and justifiably so considering its status.

"It's a free event. The vast majority of costs are funded by business anyway so it would seem mean for the council not to give all the carnival is asking for."

About 16,000 people turned up for the event last year. Preparations are already under way for this year's carnival on Sunday, June 12.

Maureen Christian, the city council's executive member for culture, events and tourism, said the carnival was now so big that businesses along Cowley Road should fund the shortfall.

She added: "To cut ourselves off from being able to fund small initiatives would be quite wrong -- we are funding them quite generously."