A popular town carnival has been forced to change its procession route this year due to a road closure on a key route – which put the event at risk of being cancelled.

East Anglian Daily Times: The new route for this year's Sudbury Carnival Picture: SUDBURY CARNIVAL/GOOGLE MAPSThe new route for this year's Sudbury Carnival Picture: SUDBURY CARNIVAL/GOOGLE MAPS (Image: Archant)

Organisers feared Sudbury Carnival would not take place this year after it was announced that Gainsborough Road would be shut for six-weeks from July 24.

The major work, to repair water pipes and restore underground cables, was scheduled to coincide with the school holidays in an attempt to minimise disruption.

The carnival’s organising committee was forced to abandon the normal route and work with Suffolk County Council to formulate a new one, with only limited time to save the event.

This year, all entrants for the carnival, on Sunday, August 19, will meet at Alexandra Road by the Delphi factory and the procession will turn left into Newton Road, right into Cats Lane to the end of the road before turning right into Cornard Road.

East Anglian Daily Times: Action from last year's Sudbury Carnival Picture: RICHARD MARSHAMAction from last year's Sudbury Carnival Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

From there, the procession will travel across Kings Road to the traffic lights at the Girling Street/East Street cross roads before turning right into Girling Street to Belle Vue Park.

Jack Owen, county councillor and former town mayor, who is part of the carnival committee, said: “This year’s Sudbury Carnival nearly didn’t take place.

“It was only four weeks ago when the road closure at Gainsborough Road on the one-way system was announced, and the panic button was pushed.

“The normal route had to be abandoned, and a new one agreed with the county council and Sudbury wardens.

East Anglian Daily Times: Crowds line the streets for last year's Sudbury Carnival Picture: RICHARD MARSHAMCrowds line the streets for last year's Sudbury Carnival Picture: RICHARD MARSHAM (Image: Richard Marsham - RMG Photography Tel - 07798 758711)

“We had to be mindful of the distance for the pedestrians and the effect on other road users and businesses on the route and there was reluctance by the council to have any further obstruction on the diversion route.

“The committee – with considerable reluctance – had to abandon any attempt to go down North Street as it would cause too much obstruction, and to expect the number parked vehicles to be moved was unrealistic.

“Hopefully the forced change of route will not spoil the participants’ or spectators’ enjoyment, with more than 20 individual floats taking part.”

The carnival was resurrected in 2014 after an absence of more than 20 years and this year’s theme is ‘countries of the world’.

The procession will start at midday, arriving at Belle Vue Park around 1.15pm.