A POPULAR town gala has been saved after residents rallied round to support the event.Organisers of the Leiston Gala, which takes place on August 29, announced last month they would be unable to hold it this year after failing to attract enough people on to their committee.

A POPULAR town gala has been saved after residents rallied round to support the event.

Organisers of the Leiston Gala, which takes place on August 29, announced last month they would be unable to hold it this year after failing to attract enough people on to their committee.

Only one person turned up for a crunch meeting in January, and disappointed committee members felt they could not carry on without more help.

But, after the crisis was reported in the EADT, residents turned up in force for a committee meeting at the Leiston Town Athletic Association in Victory Road on Thursday night , and 11 new members were recruited.

Committee member Steve Brown said they were "over the moon" at the response, which means they now have the biggest committee they have had in their history.

"The committee room was completely full up. It was amazing – we could not believe it. We were flabbergasted," he said.

It was heartening to see lots of young people with fresh ideas becoming involved, he said.

"We have now got a committee of about 16 people. It seems like we started up a bit of a hornets' nest. That means that the gala is going ahead."

A sub-committee made up of some of the new members has formed, and is looking after the entertainments side, he explained.

Mr Brown added: "They are all coming up with new ideas and they are willing to see them through. It's the biggest committee we've ever had. It could not be better."

The crisis was triggered after several committee members retired for health or personal reasons. The event was revived several years ago and has gone from strength to strength. Over the last eight years, it has raised more than £9,000 for good causes.

The committee is appealing for Leiston residents to approach them with ideas of what they would like to see at this year's gala.

They are also looking for applicants for the carnival queen and her attendants. The queen can be aged 14 or upwards, and the attendants are aged nine to 11.

For more information, contact Steve Brown on 01728 831305, Bing Boast on 01728 830391 or Donna Hoffman on 01728 832317.