WE would like to add our voices to all the people calling for Leyland Festival to continue.

As a family, we have been involved in the festival for more than 25 years either building floats, Morris dancing, street collecting, competing, dancing or as patrons and vice presidents.

The festival is the one thing of which Leyland could be truly proud because it drew together the whole community. It will need a community effort to save it.

In earlier years, it was a showcase for local businesses, part of their marketing. Small companies benefit from this publicity as well as large ones.

Recently the procession and the concessions have dwindled in numbers -- there is a need for small and medium sized businesses to participate again.

The festival needs contributions form those businesses that profit on festival day for example, the pubs and takeaways. It needs contributions from us all, either in cash, time or in other ways.

The festival organisers are to be congratulated for their time and effort that have given us pleasure for many years.

It is not yet too late -- let us tell them that they can count on the people of Leyland. We are asking them to give the festival one last chance with our help and support.

Please tell all of us what you need so we can assist you.

Such a fine institution should not fade away through apathy, let us keep it going into the new millennium.

Michele, John, Alex and Vickie Edwin, Parkgate Drive, Leyland.