After surmounting a financial crisis the hugely popular Fylde coast event has been scrubbed for this summer because of the problems with tramway works in the town centre.

But the chamber will bring it back in 2011 with help from members of the old transport festival committee.

Festival spokesman Keith Yates said: "We've run out of steam and energy. We've been lurching from one crisis to another every year.

"We were putting on the festival at great cost personally in terms of health and time and energy.

"I'm relieved we've not got the struggles and fights and battles to get the festival together.

"There is a sense of relief, but disappointment for the town which is what it's done for."

The Gazette revealed, last Friday, how uncertainty over the ongoing revamp of the Fylde's tram network had meant this year's event could not go ahead.

The news came just days after a deal had been struck with the port's chamber of trade to secure the long-term future of the transport festival which attracts 40,000 visitors every July.

The chamber is hoping to inject added business acumen into the event while there has been a pledge of up to £4,000 from Fleetwood Town Council.

Mr Yates said he and committee member Dave Hutton would be available to advise the chamber of trade on future events.

He said: "The festival needs a lot of skill and it's not something you can do without necessary experience so I can see Dave and myself being called on, especially in the early stages. "We want to come back bigger and brighter and build on the last 25 years."

Mr Yates said the work of chamber president Mike Sanderson had been vital for the festival's future.

Wyre Council leader Peter Gibson said it was vital the festival returned in 2011.

He said: "We've been talking to the chamber of trade and wanted to do all we could to save it.

"That it won't be taking place in 2010 is a big blow for Fleetwood. On the other hand the chamber is taking it over and it's going to come back bigger and better and will be more sustainable for the future."

n A new schedule of tramway works for the town centre is being discussed by contractors BAM Nuttall, Lancashire County Council and the chamber of trade.

Project manager Mike Grace said the changes were being made because of complaints from traders about planned work on the Esplanade in the summer.

They also wanted to finish the work in Fleetwood by November, two months earlier than previously planned, to get workers involved on work in Blackpool.