A WEEK of festivities to 'bring back the fun and energy to the streets of Callington' is being planned for this summer with the carnival being the catalyst.

Callington carnival was revived last year after a 15-year break and its success has spurred major town organisations to get together and make the party atmosphere last for seven days — it will begin with the Lions' Gala Day on July 11 and end with the carnival on July 18.

Events are being planned for each day from concerts to film shows to themed evenings and a barn dance.

President of the town's Rotary Club Mike Gill said this was the first time the Rotary and the Lions had worked closely together on a project which had also involved the town council — portreeve Rick Lumley is one of the instigators.

'We are breaking new ground and it helps that the portreeve is also a Rotarian,' he said.

'The festival week is pulling together all the people who are prepared to work hard to do something and we hope it will be a great success.'

Despite nervous anticipation by the organisers, the crowds poured onto the streets to watch the carnival last July and some 20 floats and numerous walking entries filled the town with colour and laughter.

Mr Gill said as the procession turned the corner into Fore Street the organisers were 'gobsmacked' by the turnout.

'It was choc-a-block with people and we were thrilled to bits. We were helped by the weather but the amount of people that came out and supported it was just fantastic.'

The revival of the carnival came about through talking to Rotary Club members in Lostwithiel who said that running a carnival was achievable because the Rotary Club nationally had a large public liability insurance to cover carnivals.

'It would have cost the town council a lot of money to buy in insurance but with the Rotary running it this was not a problem.

'So we ran the carnival and the Lions had their gala day the Saturday before. It just made sense to do something in between so this year we are hoping to run something every night of the week.'

From bingo to belly dancing, street entertainment to gospel singing, there is a big variety of events to appeal to all tastes and ages.

Callington Young Farmers' Club, Callington Town Band, Prim Raf and many other organisations are getting involved and the local police have also been supportive, said Mr Gill.

Callington portreeve Rick Lumley said: 'We want to bring back fun and energy to the streets of Callington and something for all the generations.

'It's also about rekindling the sense of community, providing a sense of belonging and re-introducing the idea of tradition and heritage to the yearly calendar.

'Hopefully it will grow and grow — the idea is that it will get bigger and better so that in years to come we will have something really prestigious.'

A programme of events is being put together and the festival committee is offering all local organisations, clubs, groups and societies some free publicity in the publication to let everyone know just how much is going on in the town.

Contact Mike Gill on 01579 351078 if you wish to be in it.