WORCESTER'S first gala day had all the elements to bring the city to life - except visitors.

Disappointed organisers said the poor turnout on Saturday had left them wondering what on earth to do to try and draw a crowd.

The event at the racecourse had a line-up of acts which included 20 bands, rides, circus performers and an illusionist who made a motorbike and rider disappear.

It was organised after the annual Worcester Carnival was cancelled due to a lack of floats.

"What do we have to do?" said carnival committee chairman Trevor Smith.

"People complained when we cancelled the festival, but then they did not bother turning up on Saturday.

"We are bitterly, bitterly disappointed.

"I was hoping to see about five or six thousand people, but at a guess I would say we only had 1,500."

Mr Smith said that a lack of advertising was not responsible for the poor turnout.

The organisers had advertised extensively and 150 flyers had been put up around the city centre.

"It was all there - we just had no people," said Mr Smith.

The event, sponsored by the Reality Group, had circus performers teaching children to face paint, and two stages for bands including Columbus Minus 7, Tree Frogs, Jamie Knight, Spoonfed and the Whole Kobudle.

The only group not to appear was a team of Appalachian step dancers.

Although the gala was intended to be as popular as the festival, the cancellation of the floats may have also contributed to local apathy.

Mr Smith said that each float usually involves 50 people, and if there were 20 floats this would have added a further 1,000 people to the event.

"After we cancelled the festival this year we decided to keep the door open on next year," Mr Smith added.

"But after Saturday I do not know if it is worth keeping that door open."