A CARNIVAL chairman has said they will soldier on – despite only having two members of the public attend a meeting called to discuss its future.

The Stowmarket Carnival meeting only saw a councillor and a former carnival queen turn up after an appeal was made for help.

Zoe Lynch, the committee chairman, has said this year’s event will go ahead but future ones will be in danger if there is not more public support.

She said: “It’s just all the same, we did not have anyone. We had the Green party councillor, John Matthissen, and an ex-carnival queen and the committee themselves.

“It would be lovely if we had more but we will just continue on. The message is out there, we can only do so much. We have a very dedicated committee that’s working very hard on things and doing a fantastic job – hats off to them. No one knows what is around the corner in terms of funds, we are working hard making this one happen.

“We are currently arranging events and different things.”

In the meeting the carnival voted to become a charity. The Charity Commission will now decide whether to grant the status.

Mrs Lynch will soon be looking for the Carnival King and Queen. She wants the role to be filled by “community-driven” people.

A second public meeting has been called next month. People are invited to the Cedars Hotel, Stowmarket, on April 3, at 7pm.

A fundraising event for the carnival will be held on Friday, March 15. A Night at the Dogs, in Mildenhall, will cost £15 per person including entry plus sausage and chips and coach travel from Stowmarket.

For more information on the carnival contact Zoe Lynch at chairladyofstow@gmail.com or call her on 07854 553966.

This year’s carnival will run on July 19, 20 and 21. A procession will travel around the town on July 20.