Stark warning over carnival's future

Carnival week kicks off on Sunday with a host of events to whet the appetite of summer revellers, but more volunteers are needed for the popular day of fun to survive.

Bewdley Carnival Committee secretary Angie Pitt said: "We have six members on the committee and unless we can get more to join we will have to look at not doing a carnival.

"We have a small committee and, not being funny, we are getting a bit long in the tooth and are having to double up on jobs.

"Instead of each doing one task we are doing two or three. We just do not have the manpower. This might be our last carnival."

Obtaining permission for road closure from Wyre Forest District Council had been particularly time consuming this year, Mrs Pitt said.

"This is our 38th carnival year and we want to make it to 40," she said.

This year's event, on Saturday June 12, looked to be as popular as ever, Mrs Pitt went on, and would hopefully spur more residents to take an active part in organising and staffing the event, at Bewdley Leisure Centre, which last year attracted about 2,000 people.

Carnival week begins on Sunday when pubs and clubs from the town take part in a special regatta at Bewdley Rowing Club in Riverside North, beginning at 2.30pm.

St George's Hall, in Load Street car park, will host a pet show the following night with dogs being judged at 6.30pm and all other pets at 7pm.

The Wheatsheaf Room at the Bewdley Institute in Load Street will host a children's trivia quiz on Tuesday night at 6.30pm, which is open to teams of youngsters aged 15 and under.

A pub quiz for adults will be held in the Black Boy in Kidderminster Road the following evening, at 7.30pm.

Fireworks will light up the night sky at about 10.15pm on Friday evening over Severnside North, to celebrate the arrival of carnival day.

Places in the float parade and stalls - for which organisers invite a donation - are still available. For more information contact Mrs Pitt on 01299 402723.