WELLINGTON will stage its annual carnival this year with the date already fixed - Saturday, September 24.

The news it will resume following an absence of three years follows the annual meeting of the Carnival Committee held at the Cottage Inn earlier this week.

Committee chairman Paul Goodyer broke the news after the meeting saying: "It’s absolutely amazing. We have a committee of ten and we meet again at the Cottage next month (March 14, 7pm). The meeting will also be open to the public because we still need more support.

"A lot of people from Wellington turned up to the annual meeting, which was great. It was a very positive meeting."

But Mr Goodyer, who is on the management team of Taunton-based Paul’s Promotions, said the carnival committee would not be holding the annual street fair in town this year, which is a big fundraiser for the main event in September.

"We are planning to raise funds in other ways, and we’re looking for sponsors," he added. "We would like as many businesses as possible to get involved.

"We just can’t wait to get started - we’re raring to go."

Mr Goodyer will continue as chairman with Nick Warden as treasurer, replacing the former chairman, Sharon Collins, while Valerie Burton is the new secretary.

* Sharon Collins did not attend the meeting on Monday but visited the Cottage Inn just before it started to hand over the treasurer’s books.

She said: "I have a new job and a new venture. I think I have done my time when I was chairman.

"I would like to wish the new carnival committee the very best for the new season. I hope it will come back bigger and better."

Mr Goodyer said he and the carnival committee would like to thank Sharon for all her ’hard work’ in the past.