IT looks like the end of the road for Morecambe Carnival.

Organisers claim that poor public support and reduced funding are to blame.

The carnival has been an annual feature in the resort for the last 70 years but organisers say they've had enough.

They made the announcement at a meeting on Monday evening, which was attended by the district's mayor, Cllr Edna Jones, and carnival queens past and present.

In terms of numbers, last year's festival was considered to be a great success but despite thousands of people lining the promenade only £640 was collected in donations from the public.

Increasing bureaucracy has also hampered the festival with the council forcing the committee to take out a £6 million insurance policy on the festival parade, which cost them £600.

Announcing the decision, Committee Chairman, Betty Ford (pictured), said: "It's very sad but this particular committee has decided not to carry on. The costs are increasing all the time and it's a lot of hard work to organise.

"When one's finished you have to start organising the next one. We spent £3,000 on last year's festival and only raised £640 in donations from the public along the promenade which was very disappointing.

"If we don't get the help or support of the public or the council then its very difficult to make it a success."

On Monday evening at the Headway Hotel, the committee presented £2,000 to four different charities and also handed out awards in recognition of collectors and people who had helped support the festival.

Mrs Ford added: "I remember being in the Morecambe Festival when I was just five years old - that's 69 years ago!

"It's a sad day and someone else may decide they want to organise something but this committee is calling it a day."