The organising committee behind a Suffolk carnival have been hit with a £3,500 bill for a two-hour road closure, less than a month before the event.

Stowmarket Carnival takes place at the town’s recreation ground on Recreation Road from Friday, July 17, through to Sunday, July 19. The procession takes place on Saturday afternoon.

Essex trio Dr Feelgood are interrupting performances in Europe to headline the Friday night, supported by Ipswich bands the Colourblind Hedgehogs and the Shaboogamoo Shufflers.

Carnival committee vice chairman Tim Brame, said they received the bill from Kier Group – who carry out the county’s roads maintenance – via Suffolk County Council.

Mr Brame added: “It’s a bit of a shock, really.

“This year we’re going to have to agree to pay the fees, but going forward were discussing whether this is the end of the procession in its current form.

“We’re angry. Without the procession we’re just an event on the recreation ground, and that is no different from StowFiesta. It’s definitely going ahead this year but next year is a question mark at the moment.”

A county council spokesman said they were passing the message on to the committee, as the closure is not for a civic event. If it was, they would have organised the closure themselves. Yesterday, Kier Group was unavailable for comment.

Also announced for the carnival is a memorial flyover on the Saturday, from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Mr Brame said the flight will be a way of commemorating VE Day.

He added: “It’s the first time the carnival has had a flyover. It gives us something a little bit different.”

For more information, visit www.stowmarketcarnival.org.uk/