Newton Poppleford’s annual carnival of 35 years has folded due to a lack of local interest.

The decision was taken by members of the carnival committee in a meeting held at the end of May.

Chairman Jackie Barnard said the carnival’s end was a ‘shame’, adding: “A lot of the carnival is the same people doing the same thing.”

Disappointment in 2013 set the increasingly likely scene for this year’s decision, as only one float was entered from the Newton Poppleford parish.

The event also cost around £3,500 to stage, including insurance, prize money, generator hire, a road closure licence and signage.

Funds to pay for the event were raised locally through fetes and coffee mornings.

The apparent lack of interest only added to the growing uncertainty whether this year’s procession was going to go ahead.

Committee member Geoff Tenney said he was sad to see the annual event fold.

“My son was on the first float [when the carnival started],” he said. “About ten floats from the village entered and one came from outside.

“But those involved in the festival needed more help, and that help was not forthcoming. We needed ten more people on the committee – we only had six when the decision was made to fold.”

Geoff said the carnival could be ‘revived’ if someone takes it upon themselves to start it back up again – and funds are available.

“We left some money behind to help should it start again,” he added.