BLESSED with sunshine and the support of thousands of people, the Ledbury Carnival was a tribute to the small band of organisers who every year deliver a real Bank Holiday treat.

A colourful procession, lots of stalls, musical entertainment, a free bouncy castle at The Feathers and a display of horticultural produce provided plenty for people to enjoy.

Ledbury is lucky with the number of people it has who are willing to put something into the community and to make special days like this possible.

The English Festival, Ledbury in Bloom and the Poetry Festival are just some of the events which continue to draw people in and enhance the cultural life and economy of the town.

However, that number is dwindling and the carnival committee will next week make an appeal for fresh blood to secure the future of this great event, now in its fourth decade.

The same refrain can be heard in Upton, where the Water Festival filled the town with visitors and was a great success.

Problems with recruiting willing volunteers in key positions could spell disaster for the festival and Upton would be a poorer place for its demise.

Fewer and fewer people have the time and inclination to step forward and, with the mass of rules and regulations - plus legal liabilities - who can blame them?

That said, we need a revival of community spirit to preserve these wonderful events, which do so much to give our towns and villages their individual identities.

The next time you are soaking up the sunshine, how about make a personal pledge to become a volunteer - or these wonderful events may disappear as fast as your ice-cream.