26 May 2010 Last updated at 11:55 ET

New sponsor for Edinburgh Fringe comedy awards

Key won the main comedy award at last year's Edinburgh Fringe

The comedy awards at the Edinburgh Fringe have secured a new sponsor, it has been announced.

Foster's lager, owned by brewer Heineken, will provide the funding package this year.

Organiser Nica Burns used more than £100,000 of her own money to fund the event in 2009, after it was left without a backer for the first time.

Theatre producer Ms Burns said she had sought a sponsor with a "long-term commitment to comedy".

The awards, which have been presented every year since 1981, were sponsored by Perrier until 2006.

Edinburgh-based Intelligence Finance took over, but pulled out after three years.

The winner of last year's main comedy award was Tim Key, for his show The Slutcracker.