A popular festive event in Glastonbury had been uninsured for the past two years, it has been revealed.
The town's Frost Fayre had been organised by Councillor Denise Michell, who believed she was organising it on behalf of the town and were covered by the council's insurance.
However, the town council believed the council had been supporting the event, but it was not being organised by them.
The confusion came to light following this year's event, when a horse fell over while pulling a cart carrying children to Santa's Grotto.
Parents whose children were caught up in the incident have since discovered there was no public liability insurance in place.
To further complicate matters, the road closures for the event were applied for in the name of Glastonbury Town Council.
"During my first term of office during a town council meeting it was said the Frost Fayre and Christmas trees for the High Street shops would not be happening due to the lack of support by Glastonbury Chamber of Trade," Mrs Michell said.
"I offered to organise the Frost Fayre and Councillor Bill Knight offered to take on the town's Christmas trees.
"All monies were banked in the Glastonbury Events Management account which is held by Councillor Alan Gloak and Jon Cousins."
"I believed this was a council-led event to raise funds for the Mayor's charity of choice," she said.
"I was totally under the impression the town council's insurance was covering this event, as well as the Christmas trees."
But in the wake of the accident, it has turned out the event had been running without insurance.
Mendip District Council confirmed they had given licences for a stall in the High Street which had been selling alcohol, and another for music and dancing in St Dunstan's car park.
It confirmed it had not given a hackney carriage licence to the pony and cart, as did neighbouring council, South Somerset District Council.
Mrs Michell said she had also been told by the owner of the horse and carriage that they had insurance in place, and a hackney carriage licence that covered her for carrying passengers.
She said that after the accident, the horse and cart owner confirmed this information to the town clerk at the town hall.
Mrs Michell passed on contact details for the horse and carriage owner to the parents of all the children who had been involved in the accident, for insurance purposes and believes they are pursuing matters with her.
"We all worked voluntarily to organise this," she said.
"The money raised – £800 – was handed over to Councillor Ian Tucker, the mayor of Glastonbury, this year, who was going to give it to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance."
This year, she hopes that if the Frost Fayre goes ahead again, it will be as part of the town council's official events, as part of the Promoting Glastonbury committee.
"Then, in future, this event will be covered by the town council's insurance," she said.
