A community event which has brought joy to families in a Hampshire town for more than a century has been axed due to a lack of volunteers.
Hedge End Carnival, which has raised many thousands for local good causes since its inception in 1921, will no longer take place as planned in July.
Committee members, who held a special make or break meeting this week in a last gasp attempt to save the beloved event, had previously appealed for more help in the Daily Echo.
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They hope it may be possible to resurrect the carnival in future, but have cancelled this year's event.
Chairman Jean Rumbold first got involved in the carnival when her eldest daughter, now aged 60, was on a float as a pre-schooler.
Jean, who has been on the carnival committee for over 20 years, told the Daily Echo: "I'm just absolutely devastated, it's been going for 102 years and it means an awful lot to me.
"So many people said they were going to come along and volunteer, but nobody turned up. It's just so disappointing, but we just cannot run the event with so few people. Everything has to be put in place in January, like the road closures, so we had to make a decision on whether to go ahead now."
A meeting will be held in May to decide on charity money still held by the carnival committee and whether the event could be resurrected in future.
A Carnival Committee statement said: "It's with great regret and sadness that despite several reminders and lots of media coverage including The Echo and promises from people to attend, we had no additional volunteers at our meeting this evening, therefore the carnival will not take place in 2024.
"We understand there will be a lot of disappointment. However, we cannot stress enough that we have given the community many chances to join our committee with no joy.
"The carnival will be greatly missed by the committee and the community this year."
The carnival includes a themed procession through the streets of Hedge End involving dozens of local organisations and a gala event in Greta Park with a funfair, stalls and entertainment.
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