STRUGGLING organisers of Otley Victorian Fayre have put out a desperate plea for more volunteers.

They say unless people come forward in the next couple of weeks the winter event will not go ahead in its usual form - and could even be cancelled this year.

At the moment the fayre committee is without a chairman and treasurer and has just four core members.

Mike Gittins, fayre secretary, said it was a desperate situation.

"We have nothing like enough people at the moment to run the fayre.

"It is an absolutely desperate situation and if we don't get more people the fayre will not go ahead in its usual form."

At the moment the committee is made up of Mike and Lynn Gittins, Tina Dawson and Jonathan Kirkland, with help from Trevor Wallis, landlord of The Bowling Green and newly elected city councillor, Nigel Francis.

Mr Gittins suggested a way forward would be if the event was run by the town council.

"It can't be run by a committee who are only doing it as a gift to the town. None of us have businesses, we do it purely to bring business into the town and to give residents a memorable time," he said.

The pre-Christmas event regularly attracts thousands of people into the town and usually raises around £4,000 for local charities.

Trevor Backhouse, president of the Otley and District Chamber of Trade, said he was a great supporter of the event which gave a great boost to many of the town's businesses.

"Any business that has something to do with food will do well on the day.

"It does depend on the type of shop how well they do on Victorian Fayre day, but I do believe the event is good for the town because it is one of the events that puts Otley on the map."

He said it would be difficult for businesses to help with the event as they would be busy on the day itself, but thought help could be offered in the run up to the fayre.

"It is very important that the town doesn't lose these type of events, you just don't get them in other parts of Leeds."

Otley Town Council leader, Councillor John Eveleigh said it was possible that the town council could put forward a representative to sit on the committee - like it does with many other groups in the town.

He said it would be a great shame if the event did not go ahead.

Coun Eveleigh said: "The cry for more assistance seems to go up nearly every year.

"The carnival never seems to be short of people, but for some reason the victorian fayre always seems to struggle. It's such a good event and it does bring people together just before Christmas. A few years ago it started to look a bit tired and jaded, but it's really picked up in the last couple of years."

l Anyone interested in joining Otley Victorian Fayre Committee should contact Mike Gittins on (01943) 872214.