Curtains for top Fringe group

ONE of Edinburgh's most respected Fringe groups has been forced to pull out of this year's Festival due to a shortage of cash.

Aurora Nova, which is based at St Stephen's Church in Stockbridge, has presented work by dozens of international companies and won awards since it was set up in 2001.

But the firm says it has now made the "extremely difficult" decision not to take part this year but hopes to return in 2009.