THE Carnival is over with the shock news that Bury's premier annual gala event is being laid to rest after 30 years.

Officials of Bury Lions Club, which has organised the carnival since the late 1960s, made the unexpected announcement yesterday.

President Alan Wilde said: "It is with much regret that Bury Lions Carnival for the Year 2000 and the foreseeable future will not now take place.

"After 30 years we, as a club, find there are many reasons for us to call a halt to such a successful event which has served the community of Bury over the years."

He added: "First and foremost, Bury Lions are finding it difficult to raise the manpower to shoulder such a large event.

"Insurance and stringent health and safety issues bring their own problems, as do providing toilet facilities for both able-bodied and non able-bodied people.

"All these cost money which brings in the last but not least reason for the halt of the Carnival.

"Sponsorship has been very difficult to obtain. And when admission charges had, by necessity, to be levied, members of the Bury Lions Club were subjected to much unnecessary verbal abuse." At the same time, uncertainty also surrounds the Carnival venue at Castlecroft which Bury Council is trying to sell.

The president said: "While the decision by members of Bury Lions not to hold a carnival in the immediate future was taken with much soul-searching, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the public of Bury for their stalwart support over the past 30 years.

"We realise that that many organisations have benefited from the proceeds of the Carnival over the years.

"And, we, as a club, are directing our efforts to other forms of fund-raising so that many more will benefit.

Mr Wilde added: "The Lions motto of 'We Serve' is still important to us as we serve you - the community of the metropolitan borough of Bury."

In its heyday, the Carnival attracted more than 20,000 visitors to its main venue at Clarence Park.

But two years ago, high insurance costs forced the Lions to abandon the highly popular parade of floats which was the highlight of the event.

In June this year, the Carnival celebrated its 30th anniversary with the hope that the gala would continue into the new Millennium.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.