NEXT summer's carnival in Teignmouth has been cancelled, because organisers say that they are not getting enough support from the town.

Carnival chairman Steve Jenkinson said that unless a miracle happened, and half a dozen committed people stepped forward, the carnival would fold.

'After the success of the winter carnival, I thought hard about the summer one, and why it doesn't succeed in the same way,' he said. 'It's basically down to a question of money and manpower.

'I put it to the committee on Monday night, and they agreed to knock it on the head. It's too much for three people to do it all by themselves.'

Mr Jenkinson said that they had made numerous fruitless appeals in the past for volunteers and money.

'There's no way in this world that I'm going to go through again what we went through last summer,' he said.

He regretted that Teignmouth did not seem to have the same community atmosphere as Dawlish, where the carnival had flourished.

'Dawlish is smaller and everyone gets involved in what goes on,' he said. 'They hold their carnival on the Lawn, right among the shops, but the Den is away from the town a little.

'The traders in Dawlish also tend to get involved financially and with manpower, but that doesn't happen so much in Teignmouth.'

Mr Jenkinson said that the Dawlish carnival had been practically broke a few years ago, but it had been built up into something profitable.

It could afford top attractions, such as the Red Arrows, at a price of around £6,000.

However, Mr Jenkinson said that the winter carnival would not be affected.

'If we drop the summer carnival, we can build up the winter one,' he said. 'It doesn't cost so much to put on and takes far less organising. In the summer we have the marquee, fireworks and a huge range of other expenses.'

He said that he was not standing down, and hoped to organise a few smaller events during the summer, which would help to finance the winter carnival.

'It is all a huge shame because Teignmouth Carnival goes back many, many years,' he said. 'But people seem to prefer the winter carnival to the summer one.'

He thanked the town clerk and the town council for all their help with the winter carnival.

The mayor of Teignmouth, Cllr Vince Fusco, said that he was devastated by the news of the carnival's cancellation.

'It has been a great shock, and I know that many people will be very disappointed, but the committee could have done with a lot more hands-on support,' he said.

If anyone wants to help save the summer carnival, Mr Jenkinson can be reached on 01626 772582.