The founder of Ealing Jazz Festival has launched a new event celebrating the genre following the council's "wilful" cuts.

Dick Esmond co-founded the festival 30 years ago in The Plough Inn, Northfield Avenue, but was upset when the council dropped him from his role and reduced the event from five days to two.

The council had capped its spending at £72,000 due to the "poor" attendance for the three days it chose to cut.

In April earlier this year more than 70 campaigners rallied outside Ealing Town Hall in response to the cuts and at this year's event, held on July 23 and 24.

And 16 of the 20 bands who appeared in 2015 chose not to take part in this year's festival.

'First step back to what we always aimed for'

But Mr Esmond has taken a stand by organising a brand new jazz festival in a bid to "set the record straight and show people what they are missing".

The event, unofficially called Jazz in the Garden, will take place on August 21 at the Drayton Court Hotel, Ealing, for one day this year with a view to expanding it to three days in 2017.

Mr Desmond said: "Having witnessed the council's wilful destruction of a highly successful jazz festival established for 30 years, we are delighted to have secured the funding and support for a new jazz event which takes us back to the values we lost under council control.

"Namely locally led bands, a focus on popular and accessible jazz, and free admission.

"It is not long since Ealing Jazz Festival was an eight day event, funded by major sponsors and free to the public.

"This is the first step back to what we always aimed for – a community based jazz festival that Ealing can be proud of."

'Ealing tax payer should not fund it'

The new festival will run from noon to 8pm and will feature the likes of Andrew Butcher and Butchers Brew, Winston Morson's Off the Cuff and Dick Esmond's Sound of 7.

Admission will be free and performances will be held in the large pub garden, or inside if the weather is poor.

Labour councillor Bassam Mahfouz, who played a key role in the festival reform, said: "This year we were bold and changed the way the jazz festival was organised.

"The record-breaking crowds and a full-programme of fantastic musicians for the weekend show that the public and the performers are on side with the new look, even more successful Ealing Jazz Festival.

"This year's jazz festival saw more people through the doors in one weekend than it has seen over five days in recent years.

"I've always suggested that if Dick wanted to do more nights of jazz in local venues, then that would be absolutely fantastic, but that the Ealing tax payer could not and should not fund it.

"I'm delighted that he's finally listened to my advice and got this event organised. I hope it's a great success."