THIS year’s Poole Carnival has been cancelled with less than a fortnight to go after organisers decided they were not in financial shape to proceed.

They hope it is not the end of the event, which was due to take place on Sunday, August 6.

The carnival was revived in 2014 by traders in Ashley Road, Parkstone, and had featured a procession to Branksome Rec for a day of activities.

But the cost of road closures had already prompted organisers to cancel the procession this year and the events at the rec have now been called off.

Branksome West councillor Marion le Poidevin, who is the carnival committee’s secretary, said: “It’s extremely sad. We’ve been hoping all along that we would be able to rescue it but it’s become clear looking at the financial position that it’s not viable at the moment.”

The committee still had bills to settle from last year and was owed money by some businesses that took out adverts in last year’s carnival programme.

Cllr le Poidevin said one of the main expenses was renting the rec from Poole council, which cost more than £1,000.

“Between that and insurance, it’s the best part of £2,000 before you even start anything else,” she said.

She hoped more sponsors would come forward, as well as more volunteers.

“We don’t want to lose it but it would be irresponsible to go ahead in the financial situation at the moment,” she said.

Earlier this year, the committee warned the event was in jeopardy unless more volunteers were found.

Cllr le Poidevin paid tribute to the traders who had revived the carnival in 2014, some of whom are no longer in business locally.

“It was a team effort. These things arose out of the fact that the Ashley Road traders went to Bournemouth Carnival and they wanted to get something going locally,” she said.

“It grew out of that, which is why we put it on in Ashley Road and Branksome.

“We very much hope this is just a blip and we can reassess and refinance the thing.”

Anyone who has paid money to this year’s carnival will receive a refund.

A carnival committee meeting will go ahead as planned on Monday, August 7, the day after the event was due to happen.

More information is at poolecarnival.info and the Poole Carnival Facebook page.