CRACKS could be forming in Verwood’s Carnival Committee as opinion is divided over axing the annual event, which has been a mainstay in the town for 84 years.

Carnival chairman Adrian Read had announced that there would be no carnival next year, after yet another disappointing turn-out.

He blamed a lack of volunteers and just one carnival float and four walking entries for the decision.

Mr Read said: “There were probably 1,000 people there on Saturday, which is good but not good enough.”

He added: “There won’t be a carnival next year, I can assure you of that.”

However, committee member Steve Saville said that he would like to keep the carnival and move it back to its original May Bank Holiday date.

Mr Saville said: “When the news first broke that the carnival was going to stop, many residents wanted to save it. I would like to see the carnival continue and go back to holding it on the May Bank Holiday.

“I think if it was held then, there is more chance that more people would enter floats because they would have more time. The date was changed because of the weather, but there is very little we can do about that.”

A public meeting is being held to give residents the chance to have their say about what they would like to see in the town.

Mr Saville is urging community-minded Verwood residents to come to the meeting and voice their opinions.

He added: “I can’t second guess what people in the town would like, but I hope that as many people come to the event as possible.

“What would people like? When should it be held? And would people support it?

A gloomy outlook has been forecast several times for the Verwood Carnival, which has been run on a shoestring for several years.

In 2012 after years of being dogged by wet weather, the date was moved forward in the hope that the sun would shine on the event.

The sun did indeed shine, but by then the event looked beyond saving.

Fears were raised that if the town’s community spirit continued to decline, it would spell the end of the procession.

But a few willing volunteers could turn it all around, believes Mr Saville.

The meeting is being held at the Hideaway in Moorlands Road on October 2, at 7.30pm.