PEOPLE across Redditch have spoken of their devastation and heartbreak after the most important event in the town's calendar had to be cancelled because of the fuel crisis sweeping the nation.

Redditch Carnival has been cancelled just three days before the streets were due to be filled with colour and music for the huge community event.

And the trail of bitter disappointment the news has left in its wake has touched everybody from the youngest child to the oldest resident.

Nearly 12 months of arranging bands and acts, preparing costumes and floats and checking every detail to make sure this year's millennium carnival went with a bang now seems to have been in vain.

And countless Redditch charities who rely on the event as one of their main sources of funding are now left facing an uncertain 12 months.

Carnival committee chairman Liz Johnson said: "We just can't believe it came to this, we are absolutely devastated.

"Bands and acts have been cancelling over the last few days, so the committee had no choice.

"The lack of fuel simply means people can't get here.

"You have to book all the acts about a year in advance so there's no question of us being able to reschedule it for a few month's time. It's over for this year."

The committee has made an appeal for any businesses and organisations to make financial donations to the charities who have lost out so they will have some consolation.

People with storage areas are also being asked for help to store the costumes and props which have been created over the last few months so they can be preserved until next year's carnival.

For more details, call Liz Johnson on 457190.