AGREEMENT has been reached in the row over the future of Eastleigh's 115-year-old carnival following talks between organisers and members of Eastleigh council's executive Cabinet.

Last month carnival organisers called for urgent investigations into the future of the 2003 event amid claims that the carnival committee had been "stabbed in the back" by the borough council.

They were furious after claiming that a telephone call from council leader Keith House informed them that the town's dance and arts centre, The Point, would be closed during the 2003 carnival week for annual maintenance.

In a double whammy, Cllr House said a music festival would be staged on the Leigh Road recreation ground the week before - meaning that the carnival funfair would not be able to set up on the normal day.

Cllr House told the Daily Echo he was "staggered" by the response from the carnival committee who seemed to have got hold of the wrong end of the stick.

Now, he says a joint meeting between representatives of Eastleigh Carnival Committee and council executive members has agreed that there are no problems over next year's carnival arrangements.

He commented: "I can confirm that having looked in detail at the arrangements for next summer it will be possible for the carnival committee to book The Point on each of the days they have requested.

"The success of The Point means we now have more people wanting to use the centre than there are slots available. We therefore have to be very careful to use every possible spare hour to its best effect."

But he added: " I am delighted that it has been possible to arrange a summer of events in the town centre next year with different activities for all the family. The dance festival, the carnival and now the new proposed week-long music festival will bring new life and new business to the town in the summer."