A LACK of corporate sponsorship has meant revellers will be charged to enter the Weir Field to join the festivities at this year's Wroughton Carnival.

Organisers today revealed the event, which last year attracted thousands of people from across the borough and cost almost £10,000 to stage, had been close to being cancelled because of a dearth of corporate sponsorship and private donations.

The carnival committee "agonised" over whether to charge the public and finally agreed to press ahead with the plans at a recent meeting. After the procession along Wroughton High Street, the multitude of floats, bands and revellers head to the Weir Field where the festivities continue through the afternoon and long into the night with a live band, barbecue and side shows.

On July 12 people will be charged a nominal £1 to enter the Weir Field between noon and 6pm where they will be given a wristband to allow them to come and go as they please. Revellers joining in the fun later in the day between 6pm and 9pm will be charged £2.

Carnival secretary, Sue Carter, 47, said: "It is becoming more difficult to gain sponsorship for the carnival, costs keep rising and companies have fewer funds to give to charitable organisations."

Carnival events organiser, Tim Benson, 50, said: "We've received a couple of letters from people who say they don't agree with the decision to charge and we don't want to charge people but the carnival is an expensive thing to stage."

There are still some places left in the procession for carnival floats. For more information call 812406.