Bingley Children's Gala - an annual fixture since the Second World War - will fold within a fortnight if volunteers cannot be found.

Its committee say tighter health and safety restrictions mean they now need more people to supervise the popular event attended by around 2,000 parents and children every year.

Without firm commitments from at least ten volunteers within the next two weeks the 52nd gala will definitely not go ahead this year and is unlikely to reappear.

Spokesman Philip Ebbage said: "We need to recruit at least ten volunteers willing to help on gala day - June 12 - with general supervision of the event.

"It's simply a matter of wearing an orange suit and keeping in contact with HQ via a mobile phone or radio. It's not a particularly onerous job.

"It would be a great shame for it to fold and in previous years we have muddled through. But it has now reached the point where we legally cannot go ahead without more support."

Last year torrential rain hit funds hard but it had been hoped to put on a slimmed-down version of the gala without some of the expensive guest acts such as escapologists.

However, the committee has struggled for some time to replenish itself as retirements and deaths have diminished its numbers.

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