RESIDENTS are being urged to support plans to bring back Briercliffe Gala.

The gala was an annual event in the area until 1990 when it died out due to a lack of support in organising it.

But now a group of six residents has formed a gala committee in an attempt to resurrect the once popular event.

Committee secretary Tracy Howard, who grew up in the area and remembers going to the gala as a child, said: "We want to bring back some community spirit to Briercliffe by putting on the gala.

"But we desperately need some support from local people to do that. I have really happy memories of going to the gala when I was growing up and I want my two children to enjoy the event in the future.

"The whole community really did come together to make it a fun day for the whole family."

Residents are being urged to support the event by attending a public meeting at the community centre, in Jubilee Street, on Monday, at 7pm.

Tracy, 24, warned that the project would fail if they did not get enough people coming forward to help.

She said: "We're hoping that past and present residents of Briercliffe will pull together to recreate what used to be a fantastic community event.

"The return of the gala is by no means guaranteed -- we have a committee, but it is simply too large a project for six people.

"If we don't get the support of the wider community, then the gala will not take place. Monday's meeting really is make, or break.

"We would like anyone who can help with ideas, fund-raising, and planning, either in advance or on the day, to come along to the meeting so that we can get this event up and running again for the whole community."