BARNSTAPLE Carnival has been saved from oblivion at the eleventh hour after a campaign was launched by the

Journal.

There has been a groundswell of support for the beleagured event, which was first held in the 1930s, since the

Journal

started its campaign earlier this year.

We have added the carnival to our list of Your Pics good causes, which will help to raise hundreds of pounds in coming months.

For every picture submitted we will give £1 to the carnival, which is run by a charity.

This week, carnival committee member Arthur Windsor said the event will go ahead this year after all, although in a scaled-back form to previous recent years.

He said: "We have decided to put on the carnival but in a limited capacity. There might be a few things we are not going to do.

"There might be a smaller fireworks display and we won't be having Castle Green and will be looking at alternative venues.

"We are going to talk to Barnstaple Town Centre Management because they have the licence for the Strand and Square and we could maybe use those venues.

"We have discussed a lot of fundraising ideas, none of which are off the ground yet.

"We are looking at a raffle, possibly with some big prizes from local businesses."

He welcomed the income which will be generated by the

Journal's

Your Pics pages and said North Devon Homes, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, was also being lined up as a possible major sponsor.

And there is also talk of a logo contest for local young people.

In recent years, carnival volunteer numbers have shrunk, business sponsorship has reduced, and public sector grants have been hard to get.

It costs thousands to make the event safe, pay for insurance, hire equipment, close roads, buy a music licence, and launch fireworks. Last year the total cost was £9,200.

A Facebook group called Save Barnstaple Carnival had more than 400 members on Tuesday this week.