The organisers of a town’s carnival have the funds available for this year’s event but need extra money if it is to be the biggest and best yet.

%image(15460352, type="article-full", alt="Fund raising day for the Stowmarket Carnival organisers at the Meadlands Recreation Club Alien experience as the Stowmarket Town Partnership's "Stowmartian" surprises organisers Paul Morris, Wendy Brame and Justine Margetson")

The royalty who will parade around the Stowmarket Carnival in July were appointed at a fundraising event at the weekend.

A king and queen, two princesses and a prince will all represent the event over the two days on July 19 and 20 at the Recreation Ground. The carnival’s chairman, Justine Margetson, said that businesses from around the town have helped to cover around half of the event’s estimated £14,000 cost in sponsorship.

She said the fundraising would now concentrate on finding the “biggest and best” bands and arena acts to perform.

“People would love a band like the Kings of Leon to play but I think they are out of our price range,” Mrs Margetson said.

“The more money we can get the bigger and better the carnival can be.”

The fundraising event at the Meadlands Recreation Club in Stowmarket raised £250 for the carnival. The club also offered a £200 donation for outfits for the carnival’s royalty.

Couple, Tatum and Mark Hart were selected as king and queen. Megan Nash and Shannon Curtis will be the carnival’s princesses, with George Burton the event’s prince.

Mrs Margetson said: “The fundraising day went really well, we had a really good turnout for the selection processes – around 50-60 people to be a prince or princess. It was absolutely brilliant.

“The Saturday will feature the main events. On Sunday there will be a pet show, dog show and a car show which will be bigger and better. We are still contacting companies to help us purchase activities for children to do for free.”

To help fundraise contact the carnival’s Facebook webpage or call 07793 543444.