COLNE gala will be cancelled this summer unless enough volunteers come forward in the next few days.

The organising committee has warned that, unless it gets between 15 and 20 people to come forward by its next meeting on Tuesday, the event, which attracts hundreds of people to Alkincoats Park each June, will have to be called off.

The committee has not set a date for this year's event because members feel they cannot go ahead unless they get the support they need.

Committee member Donald Leaver said: "We're looking for members of the community to come forward and offer their help.

"The gala is always very popular with local people but we're finding no one is willing to help put it on. We can't fix a date for this year's event until we know we that have enough volunteers for it to go ahead.

"It's a big event and it takes a lot of organising. There are only five people on the committee at the moment and we need at least 15 people, and ideally 20, to organise the gala."

The gala is the second biggest event of the year in Colne behind the annual rhythm and blues festival.

It was first held in 1958 but stopped in the late 1970s because of a lack of volunteers. It was re-launched in 1992.

Anyone interested in helping organise the event is asked to go to a meeting of the organising committee at Colne Conservative Club on Tuesday at 7pm.

Mr Leaver said organisers meet once a month - more frequently as gala day approaches.

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