Following a crucial meeting last week, Ledbury Carnival has been saved, after months of speculation about its future.

The carnival is the largest single one day event on Ledbury’s annual calender, but a big question mark has been hanging over it after the long-standing chairman, Hilary Jones, decided to step down last year.

Several long-standing committee members also stepped down, and speaking in August Mrs Jones said: “We do need new committee members. If there is no committee to run it, the carnival can’t continue.”

Now a new chairman has been appointed, the long-standing committee member Johnny Chan, who is well know for his photographs and comprehensive online website in support of the carnival.

Mr Chan said: “Following our first carnival meeting of 2019 last week, I can now confirm that we will have a carnival this year and the theme is “Ledbury all at Sea, A Nautical Carnival”

“I can now confirm that I have been appointed Chairman of the Ledbury Carnival, following the retirement of the previous Chairman at the AGM last November.”

Mr Chan added: “I have been on the Carnival Committee for over 15 years; I have the background knowledge in how to organise a carnival. I will still be the official photographer.

“We also have a new vice chairman, Peter Fryar.”

The first challenge this spring will be to organise the Carnival Princess competition this spring, to find the new princess and her attendants.

This year’s carnival, on August Bank Holiday Monday, will be the 45th to take place in the town, since its revival in the 1970s.

Ledbury Carnival usually attracts huge crowds of up to 10,000 people.