Totton: Carnival joy after Healthy Pet Store saves event

Healthy Pet Store in Salisbury Road has donated more than £700, which means the carnival committee now has enough money to stage the event on June 24.

Following the end of a sponsorship deal, the committee had to find £1,000 to pay bills that needed settling by March 10.

The total raised stood at £287 when Healthy Pet Store stepped in and paid the £713 balance.

This year's Totton and Eling Carnival has been saved by a £700 donation from Deborah Burrows at Healthy Pet Store (Image: Healthy Pet Store)

Managing director Deborah Burrows came to the rescue after the Daily Echo revealed that the annual crowdpleaser was in danger of being axed.

She said: "The carnival and the parade of floats through the town is one of the highlights of the year for Totton, and I know a lot of our customers get a huge amount of joy from it.

"The thought it might not go ahead this year because of this cash shortfall seemed such a pity to me.

"We are proud to be part of the Totton business community and we live in the town too - so we knew that if we could help we should help.

"I'm delighted to have made the money up to the £1,000 that was required to ensure that once again this year the show will go on."

This year's Totton and Eling Carnival has been saved by a £700 donation from Healthy Pet Store (Image: Newsquest.)

Sir Julian Lewis, Conservative MP for New Forest East, told the Daily Echo: "Totton carnival always brings cheer, colour and community spirit to the town.

"This generous gesture by a local business will therefore have a really positive outcome."

Town councillor Dave Hills, a member of the carnival committee, said overheads included licences, insurance, first aid cover, and costs associated with implementing road closures.

He added: "We are so grateful to the generosity of Deborah and the whole team at Healthy Pet Store who really stepped forward and provided us with the funding we needed.

This year's Totton and Eling Carnival has been saved following a £700 donation from Healthy Pet Store (Image: Newsquest.)

Cllr Hills said businesses such as Healthy Pet Store were the "beating heart" of Totton's commercial community.

"Their generosity means the biggest community event of the year will be going ahead once again."

Totton councillor David Harrison added: "This is wonderful news. Well done to the Healthy Pet Store for the very generous donation. It's great to see local businesses recognise a social responsibility to support the community."

Every year thousands of people line the streets to watch a colourful procession of floats make its way from Calmore Industrial Estate to the town centre.

The event used to be sponsored by Totton College but the three-year deal has come to an end.