AN appeal was this week issued in Gunnislake, in an attempt to ensure the future of the village?s popular summer festival. The event started six years ago, as a celebration of the regeneration works which had been carried out in Gunnislake. The festival takes place at the beginning of August and includes exhibitions, competitions, musical entertainment ? and a sudden explosion in the village population, in the form of a scarecrow competition, an event which sees a wonderful collection of weird and wacky characters cropping up in front gardens, pubs, businesses and roadsides throughout the area. Now, the organising committee is hoping more residents will join them, to ensure this year?s event goes ahead ? and make Gunnislake Festival 2008 even bigger and better. The festival?s annual meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 14 in Gunnislake Public Hall ? anyone interested in getting involved in this popular event is urged to come along. Dorothy Kirk, of the organising committee, said: ?The festival has been so successful that the pressures on the organising group have increased in line with its popularity and more recruits are needed, to ensure its continued success and to prevent the existing committee from burning out! ?Any help, however small, contributes to the festival. Someone has to make the tea at talks and exhibitions, someone has to do posters, someone has to put up the bunting, someone has to transport display boards, someone has to carry tables.? Dorothy said all these tasks took time ? but if a few more people could join in, the effort involved would be easier on everyone. ?If you can offer an hour in a year, you will make a contribution to the festival that has so much enlivened the village for the last seven years,? she said. This year?s event included a giant sunflower competition, an open art exhibition, a local history exhibition and a family history day in which residents could try their hand at tracing their family trees. Dorothy said: ?The heritage aspect of the festival is ever more popular, which I suppose is entirely appropriate at the heart of the World Heritage Site.? In addition, there was a village in bloom competition in which houses were brightened with a colourful display of hanging baskets and planters, a children?s fancy dress parade and a flower festival and embroidery exhibition. There was plenty of live music ? it is hoped even more local bands will be able to join in this year. Dorothy said: ?This year?s combination of folk, gospel and rock and pop was a pretty rich cocktail, so next year should be even more so. ?For me personally the best thing about the Gunnislake Festival is the way in which it reflects the character of the community. Very Cornish ? notwithstanding our proximity to Devon ? and very warm, friendly and inclusive.? The meeting in the public hall starts at 7.30pm ? all are welcome.