LIONS Club members in Tavistock have iussued a rallying call for people to take part in the town's carnival procession.
The plea follows a warning by club president Clive Pattison that the future of the popular parade is under threat because of a decreasing number of entries.
The Lions are now asking for people to come to a meeting where they can find out how they can 'enjoy the final reward' of entering a float in the procession.
Mr Pattison said the carnival was an event 'which should involve the whole of the community entering into the spirit of carnival' rather than 'just turning up on the evening to put a few pence in the bucket'.
He said: 'A lot of pleasure can be gained from planning and putting together a float.
'We have become very concerned about the decreasing number of entries over the past few years to the extent that it is now threatening the very future of the procession,' he said.
Lack of transport has been given as the reason why many organisations have dropped out over the last few years, but Mr Pattison said this was not a problem.
'We have three local haulage contractors who have a more-than-adequate supply of vehicles which they generously provide free-of-charge, including insurance, for organisations to decorate as floats.
'We really are getting to the situation where we could lose the carnival unless community-spirited people come out of the woodwork and support us as they used to.'
Profits from carnival week are given back locally, including donations to those entering floats. £2,000 has recently been distributed to local playgroups.
Anyone interested in entering this year's procession — which will take place on Saturday, July 20, starting from Down Road at 6.30pm — is invited to a meeting in the Union Inn on Monday, March 4 at 8pm to find out more. This year's theme is 'The Best of British Comedy'.