Carnival in jeopardy as organisers disband

The future of a popular carnival that has run for more than a century could be in jeopardy, as the group behind it has been dissolved.

Stourport Carnival, which features parades, a fun fair and fireworks display, celebrated its 100th anniversary last year in the Worcestershire town.

The group that runs it, the Stourport Carnival Society, said due to a lack of volunteers it could not continue to run the event, which attracts thousands of people each year.

The organising committee took a vote to disband at its recent annual general meeting but members said they remained hopeful that another group would form to take over.

The group's secretary, Laura Minor, told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "We've made it clear that we always need help and we need volunteers.

"I did a post just before Christmas about the [annual general meeting] explaining that our committee members are stepping down and we need people to come forward, but we missed the mark."

"Fortunately now that it has been put out there, there has been a flurry of activity," Minor said, "and we have had quite a few people email yesterday saying they would be interested to help and I will pass all that on to someone who might be able to start thinking about putting a new group together.

"So it's not the end, I don't think."

For the community in Stourport, the event has been a pillar of the town.

One resident said: "It's always been part of Stourport so I would miss it, they've always struggled to get people to help."

Another added: "I've lived here 53 years and there has always been a carnival, I'd be very sad to lose it."

A third commented: "It's great to see the community coming together on carnival day, I'm quite shocked that they're struggling. It's great, it brings people into the town."

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.