Carnival WILL be staged in Wellington next year, writes Barry Knott,

This year’s carnival chairman Sharon Collins, who lives in Ottery St Mary, says she has changed her mind about stepping down.

“Carnival clubs in the area have begged me to continue with the event in the town,” she said yesterday. “I am doing it for fellow carnivalites. They still want Wellington to have a carnival.

“I think I’ve also found a new treasurer and secretary to replace those who have stepped down.”

This year’s carnival in Wellington was hit by rain and takings are considerably down on the previous year – to about £1,800.

The chairman also revealed in September that she received abusive phone calls regarding road closures which she ‘could have done without’.

Wellington Carnival is holding its annual meeting in January when the exact takings for this year’s event will be disclosed.

The loss of Wellington Carnival would also have been a threat to the town’s street fair held in June of each year.