By Juliette MaxamTHE organisers of two carnivals have warned the annual events are under threat due to lack of volunteers.Brightlingsea and Tiptree Carnivals were held on Saturday, but both events are run by dwindling numbers of committee members.

By Juliette Maxam

THE organisers of two carnivals have warned the annual events are under threat due to lack of volunteers.

Brightlingsea and Tiptree Carnivals were held on Saturday, but both events are run by dwindling numbers of committee members.

Jayne Chapman, chairman of Brightlingsea Carnival Association, warned this year's event may be the last in its 55-year history unless more helpers stepped forward. It is holding a meeting in a fortnight to discuss its future.

The Tiptree Carnival, which saw attendances down due to the hot weather, was a family affair for organisers, husband-and-wife Graham and Mandy Houghton and their daughter, Emma.

Mrs Houghton said the carnival's sponsors have promised to support it again next year, but appealed for more helpers and participants from among the community.

The theme of this year's Brightlingsea Carnival was 60 years of peace. A number of war veterans, bearing standards, took part in the procession, which halted by the town's war memorial so they could take a salute from civic dignitaries.

There was also a drumhead service on the recreation ground after the procession. Mrs Chapman said: "We were really pleased. There were more standards than we ever thought we'd get."

The carnival raised about £1,500, which is more than last year, and the proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Royal British Legion poppy appeal.

"I thought it was brilliant. The weather helped," said Mrs Chapman, who added the association was now desperately looking for new committee members and helpers.

She also thanked the town's football club, who stepped in and helped this year. The winning float in the carnival was the local Beaver and Cub scout group, with its VE day party theme.

In Tiptree, the parade had to stop twice due to the heat and St John Ambulance treated one participant for an asthma attack.

Baynards Primary School won a prize for their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory float and Tiptree Pre-School also scooped an award for its end of the garden gnomes theme. "It went very well," said Mrs Houghton.

juliette.maxam@eadt.co.uk