Carnival set to make comeback

People power has helped to save a 40-year-old Shropshire carnival from the threat of the axe. Now the race is on to make sure there is enough time to stage the Shifnal Carnival this summer.

The event was scrapped last October after a number of long-serving committee members stepped down.

The committee had made an urgent appeal for help but failed to recruit enough volunteers. Last night, almost 40 people attended a last-ditch meeting to stir-up support. Afterwards, 17 signed up to the committee and another 17 offered to help.

Dave Humphrey, who has been campaigning to revive the event, said he was thrilled.

But he warned they faced many challenges in getting the carnival organised in time for the summer.

"This is the first step to getting the carnival up-and-running," he said. "We are still quite pushed to get it done of this year."

Mr Humphrey, who is now carnival chairman, said: "I'm optimistic that with the committee and the volunteers there's a good chance it will go ahead this year.

"It's whether we've still got time to book things like St John Ambulance.

"It usually starts to be organised in September or October so we are a few months behind."

Mr Humphrey added: "I was really pleased with all the people who came along last night. The people of Shifnal were probably not aware just how desperate the carnival situation had got."

Angela Mullett, who is to continue as treasurer, said: "We have a lot of work to do but I am confident that with sufficient committed manpower we can do it."