IT MAY be the town hit hardest by foot and mouth disease but Hatherleigh has not lost its ability to have a good time and the next big event on the calendar is the carnival on November 10.
To raise money for the event the town is holding a funday on Saturday in the town square with music from Hatherleigh Silver Band, stalls, skittles, a walking treasure hunt and a table top sale. The fun starts at 3pm.
This year's carnival president is Jean Newcombe, who has been involved in the event for almost 40 years.
Mrs Newcombe said there had been so much unhappiness in Hatherleigh over the last few months she hoped all the stops would be pulled out for the carnival.
'It will be an opportunity for everyone to get together again — the Hatherleigh Festival did a wonderful job in achieving that recently,' she said.
The new president said she was more at home decorating tableaux and rolling the tar barrels than being a VIP but it was a great honour to be asked to lead the event.
'Carnival is in our family — I have always dressed up for the Hatherleigh Carnival and now my grandchildren take part in it — I will do anything to keep the tar barrels rolling,' she said.