PEMBROKESHIRE Fish Week is set to return to the county's shores this summer.

The county council is looking to resume the popular food festival, attended by around 30,000 people a year, thanks to the possibility of fresh backing and support from the Welsh Government’s Major Events Unit.

Last year's event was cancelled after a combination of staffing problems and reduced EU funding meant the council did not have the resources to organise the event, which contributes around £2.7 million to the local economy.

“I am delighted to announce that Fish Week is back next year” said cabinet member Cllr Rob Lewis.

“The Port of Milford Haven - which stepped in to run the Milford Fish Festival on the docks in June - has indicated its willingness to repeat the ‘open day’ event again in 2016 with the council’s support.

“This will leave the council responsible for running the county-wide event during the remainder of the week.”

Work has also started on establishing a social enterprise to run and deliver Pembrokeshire Fish Week from 2017.

“The advantages of creating a social enterprise are that it will be able to secure more private sector sponsorship; it will develop the festival to the next level with a board of directors who have experience of events, and generally become more commercially driven," said Cllr Lewis.

Cllr Stephen Joseph, mayor of Milford Haven, welcomed the news.

"I am delighted to hear that Pembrokeshire County Council is reviving Fish Week across the county this year," he said.

"I have every confidence that it will be better than ever.

"I am grateful to the Port of Milford Haven who stood in to ensure that the Fish Festival in Milford Haven went ahead last summer and I do hope that they will be able to run with it again this year.

"It was a tremendously successful event which will give Fish Week a great launch.

"It's encouraging to see Pembrokeshire County Council and the Port working together for the good of the county."

Lucy James, Marketing Manager at the Port of Milford Haven, said: “We’re pleased at the decision by Pembrokeshire County Council to go ahead with Pembrokeshire Fish Week this year.

"The Port will be confirming its plans later this month.”