OLYMPIC event organisers are making a last-minute appeal for a big screen so crowds can watch the end of the Beijing games.

Organisers of Upton-upon-Severn’s Water Festival are desperate to get their hands on a screen large enough for their Olympic flag handover ceremony.

The special event marking the countdown to the London 2012 Games is an addition to the main three-day festival starting on Saturday, but organisers are keen to make it an occasion in its own right.

Festival commitee members have submitted a lottery cash bid to hire a screen but fear the money will come too late for the ceremony on Sunday.

Peter Booth, handover sub-committee chairman, said: “The screen would add to the occasion. If we don’t get it then it won’t stop the event taking place.

“If anyone has got a big screen they can lend us or can stump up sponsorship for one day’s hire that would be great.”

So far, hire quotes have ranged from £5,000 to £8,000.

The screen will go near the festival’s main stage on the riverside where civic dignitaries will hand over an Olympic flag to a group of young Upton athletes.

The colours will then be hoisted from the flagpole near the King’s Head pub.

Events are being timed to coincide with a similar ceremony happening in Beijing, which will be beamed live to the big screen.

The town was the first in the UK to apply to host a handover and is one of only a handful to take part in a Sing The Nation event afterwards.

Organisers have billed this year’s festival of live music, street entertainment and fireworks as a fight back against the effects of last summer’s floods which caused widespread damage to Upton.

Last year 15,0000 people attended the two-day festival.

Mr Booth said: “We’ve got to fight as a town.

“It’s a cracking community and we want to keep it that way with events like this.”

Anyone who can help the organisers find a screen or willing to help with sponsorship should contact Peter Webb on 01684 594552.