A seaside carnival which had been held for more than 30 years has been scrapped as there are not enough people to run it.

Walton Carnival, which has been running for 34 years and has raised thousands of pounds for charity, will not go ahead this year.

The Frinton and Walton division of the St John Ambulance has been in charge of the week-long carnival held in August for the past ten years.

Philip Hurst, divisional superintendent for St John's, said an officers' meeting was held a week ago where the decision to stop the carnival was made and was announced to St John's members yesterday.

Mr Hurst said the decision was made with regret.

Christine Turner, a Walton councillor and local business woman, said: "It is terrible news for the town. Many people book their holidays for the carnival week and the shopkeepers benefit from it."

She said she would now try to organise a meeting to discuss it to see if something could be done to help.

Published Friday, March 22, 2002