The Wickerman Festival is scrapped

The Wickerman director was found dead at his East Kirkcarswell Farm at Dundrennan in December  with serious head injuries, believed to have been caused by a firearm. Police said the incident was not suspicious.

His wife Patsy Gilroy had said earlier last month that she thought the event described as 'Scotland's Alternative Music festival', could continue with another organiser.

That's despite concerns that a trebling in the costs of policing music festivals was putting festivals at risk.

Organisers of the award-winning Eden Festival had joined south of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth in objecting to the soaring police costs which they say is threatening the future of sustainability of events.

But the Wickerman Festival then moved to say it was still planning to go ahead with the festival next year,  despite posting a £300,000 loss in 2015 and a net liability of nearly £200,000. The official website became unavailable.

But now the festival, which has attracted big names such as Chic, Texas, Primal Scream, The Charlatans, the Human League, Dizzee Rascal and Gary Numan. has announced the 2015 event will be the last.

A festival spokesman said: "After much thought and consideration Patsy Gilroy and Jennie Camm have decided that the Wickerman Festival will not be continuing.

"Since it's creation by Jamie Gilroy, founding director,  the festival has provided us all with an eclectic mix of memories.

"It's these that we wish people to look back on and remember. Thank you all for your loyal support over the years..."

The two-day award winning Wickerman Festival, inspired by the cult 1970s film of the same name, has been held at Mr Gilroy's farm 25 miles south west of Dumfries since 2002 when the counter-culture music bash attracted less than 2000 people.

It went on to cater for six times that number.

It was not all about music, though.

Thousands including children traditionally gather on Saturday at midnight for the burning of a giant 30 ft  Wickerman, built by local craftsmen.

The first festival since Mr Gilroy's passing in 2015 featuring singer songwriter Tom Odell and folk rockers The Waterboys will now be the last.

Mr Gilroy's daughter Jenny Camm, the festival director, who lives and works in Tanzania, had previously said she was determined to continue her father's work.

She admitted after her father's death that during discussions with her mother,  a local Conservative councillor, there were questions over whether the event, renowned for its traditional burning of a huge wicker man effigy, could continue.

But the organisers decided to take a year off in 2016 even though fans had already bought early bird tickets.  They received an automatic refund.

The festival had gone through behind-the-scenes upheaval before Mr Gilroy's tragic death, with a number of stalwart organising figures leaving.

Wickerman Festival co-ordinator Helen Chalmers came off the festival board three weeks before Mr Gilroy died.

The same year Chay Woodman, organiser and promoter of the renowned Solus tent established to champion new Scottish music talent at the festival left.

Mr Woodman said of the news: "Words are kinda failing me. But I can get why it's the end.

"However, to say that it, and doing the island of Solus, might've been one of the best era's of my life, would be an understatement. Nothing can top it.

"Too much fun."

At its peak the festival comprised of several stages including the main Summerisle stage, the Axis Sound System reggae sound system tent, the Acoustic Village, a stage for punk, ska and northern soul called The Scooter Tent and the Solus Tent for new Scottish bands as well as several dance tents, a children's area, workshops, beer tent, crafts and a cinema.