A COMMUNITY carnival has been cancelled because villagers failed to respond to an appeal for help to run it.

West Auckland Village Partnership has reluctantly scrapped plans to hold a summer carnival on the village green on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Partnership secretary John Niven said that help would have been needed to ensure that the day and events leading up to the carnival, such as choosing a carnival king and queen, were and safe.

He said the partnership realised people would be disappointed, especially children looking forward to fancy dress contests, but is was hopeful that more community groups and individuals would volunteer next year, so that a carnival can be held in 2005.