THERE’S a call going out to each person in Colchester this weekend to make sure the return of the town’s carnival is a success.

Organisers know the survival of the newly-revived event depends on the support of the community and they are hoping people will come out in their thousands to see the first carnival parade through the town centre for more than a decade.

It was once a firm fixture in the town’s social calendar, and thanks to Destination Colchester, local businesses and a group of volunteers, it will return tomorrow, from 6pm.

At its height in the mid-1980s, Colchester’s carnival attracted 40,000 spectators, 3,000 performers and 150 floats, but it ran into trouble in 1999 because of the cost of paying for barriers along the route.

Its organiser, the Town Centre Management Company, then went into liquidation in April 2000 and further plans to reinstate it in 2002 were halted by the foot-and-mouth outbreak and later, by road restrictions.

Town promotion group, Destination Colchester, has been campaigning to bring back the event for more than a year and thanks to a number of businesses, this weekend the carnival returns.

The procession will start in Goojerat Barracks next to Abbey Field before proceeding along Goojerat Road, turn left into Circular Road West, and then right, into Butt Road.

Across Southway, the procession will then go into Head Street, turn right on to Colchester’s High Street, right again into Queen Street and then across St Botolph’s roundabout to Mersea Road.

Finally, the floats will head right into Napier Road, along Circular Road North, before finishing back in Goojerat Barracks.

Carnival organiser Ian Goldsworthy said he expected the processions to take between one and two hours and hoped the entire route would be lined with thousands of people from the town.

He said: “We have been working diligently with Colchester Council, the Army, the police and everybody involved, to see if we can get this together, but now we need the support of the public.

“Wouldn’t it be great to see 40,000 people in the town again? The whole place is a bit down at the moment and I think this will be just the thing to give Colchester that feel-good factor.”

Mr Goldsworthy said organisations and businesses had been signing up in their droves to take part and he even expected some to jump on board at this late stage.

He added: “There has been a brilliant response. We’ve had two or three phoning each week and I half expect the number to top 50 by the time of the carnival itself.

Those who have already agreed to take part include Stanway Brownies, Colchester Roller Hockey Club, the special care baby unit at Colchester General Hospital and Mercury Theatre.

There will also be plenty of colour from a number of majorette groups, such as C L Cheerleaders, Kingstone Majorettes, True Colour Majorettes, Destiny Majorettes and New Horizon Majorettes, while music comes from Colchester Royal British Legion and Colchester Scout Band.

No good carnival should be without a carnival court and Colchester’s is no exception with the newly-appointed Joanna Peagram, 22, taking the role of carnival queen with Carlie Labdon, 11, and Bukola Noah, 12, chosen as the carnival princesses and six-year-old Harrison Tuckwell, will be the carnival prince.

Mr Goldsworthy added: “The theme is the history of Colchester, but the idea is to make it as colourful as possible.

“It has not been easy, but hopefully it will all be worth while, and a big thank you must go out to all those who have helped make this happen.”

Certainly since Destination Colchester announced the return of the carnival just a matter of weeks ago, businesses have rallied to the cause, providing help in kind and money.

Event organiser Snake in the Grass, the people behind the Colchester Food Festival and Christmas Market, has helped with a safety plan and advising on carnival content, while Fingringhoe-based Zephyr Security has pledged marshals.

It is also being sponsored by supermarket chain Waitrose which is to open a Colchester branch this month.

Mr Goldsworthy added: “What we are doing is planting the seed of Colchester Carnival.

“We are hoping what we do this year will be built on in coming years and so we want the best start possible.”