WELLINGTON'S 122-year-old carnival has been saved – but it's up to local people to support it.

As revealed exclusively in the WWN in January, the threat to the town's biggest free show came after carnival committee chairman Josephine Chave's final decision to step down in January.

Now, the WWN can reveal that local businessman Dave Rylatt has stepped forward to take over the reins.

And he first read about the plight of the carnival in his Wellington Weekly news.

Dave, 48, married with five children, and living at Westford, is managing director of Bridgezone Ltd, consultant engineers based at Devonshire Gate, Tiverton.

He told the WWN: "I will be shadowing Mrs Chave this year, and I have agreed to take over next year as long as the people of Wellington support their carnival."

He said the amount of money collected during the carnival had been getting smaller over the years.

"The carnival needs the full support of the town if it is to thrive," he said.

See this week's WWN for the full story.