A COUNTY council official has objected to road closures and the rescheduling of bus services which will be caused by this year's Stourport Carnival parade - sparking fury on the eve of its 75th anniversary.

Wyre Forest District Council chairman and Stourport resident John Gordon said he was "angry and mystified" about the sudden opposition to the plan by Worcestershire County Council's transport co-ordinator for environmental services Syd Morgan.

For the first time this year the carnival is a two-day event, but Mr Morgan's request - also made on behalf of First Midland Red Buses - called for the procession on Saturday, September 2, to be cancelled, citing the disruption of seven bus services using town centre roads.

While the staging of the parade is entirely in the hands of the district council, it does consider objections from bodies including the county council and bus companies before making its order for the procession to be policed.

Mr Gordon said: "I am extremely angry about this but I can assure Stourport people the carnival, which is one of the biggest and best in the Midlands, will go ahead."

Carnival publicity officer Pete Roberts runs his shop, Pete's Prints, in Bridge Street. It is passed by floats after the parade starts in Areley Kings, and Mr Roberts said: "For about 30 years Stourport people have known the event is held on the first Saturday afternoon of September.

"They do their shopping and other jobs in the morning.

"The parade lasts about an hour and the police are always quick to get the roads back to normal as soon as it has finished. The delays and tailbacks through the town are not great at all."

Town and district councillor Michael Grinnall said: "Despite this objection, I would be disappointed if the district council took it on board and interfered with the enjoyment of so many people who have taken great pleasure from the carnival."