The Watford Big Events and Imagine Festival is costing the town’s taxpayers £220,000.

Watford Borough Council stumped up £180,000 for the Big Events series and £40,000 for the festival.

But critics said the money could have been spent in better ways for the people of Watford.

The council said the 12-event series that makes up Watford’s Big Events is designed to encourage more visitors to the town centre and generate more income for local businesses.

Gary Oliver, culture and play section head, said: "The cost of the programme for 2014/15 is £180,000 of which £90,000 has been spent to date.

"While the majority of the events are free we do expect some events such as the ice rink to generate revenue. We are also ensuring maximum value for money by using a local charitable organisation to deliver the programme and avoiding commercial operator charges."

But Asif Khan, chair of Watford Borough Council budget committee, criticised the expense saying there are better ways to spend the money.

The Labour councillor for Leggatts said: "I'm sure that there are better ways to spend tax payers money, especially in these very difficult times."

Ten-day arts festival Imagine Watford cost a total of £160,000 to produce and was paid for by the Arts Council, Watford Palace Theatre, Watford Borough Council and business sponsorship.

Mr Oliver continued: "Over the past three years Watford Borough Council has contributed £40,000 towards the cost of the festival which equates to 25 per cent of the total cost.

"The council’s contribution therefore generates external funding at a ratio of 4:1. The success of Imagine Watford has continued to grow with this year’s Imagine Watford Festival attracting an audience of 105,339 people - more than double recorded in 2012."

The council estimate visitors spent £302,921 on local businesses, and claimed 75 per cent of businesses thought the festival was an opportunity to promote their business or increase trade.

Mr Oliver added: "Both the Big Events and Imagine Watford generate secondary spend for a number of businesses and services in the town centre.

"By attracting more people to enjoy the newly transformed Parade space there is no doubt that the Big Event’s programme will generate more value for Watford’s retailers, bars and restaurants."