Gomersal Gala - a summer tradition for 21 years - has been scrapped through lack of support.

A plea for help from Ann Howgate, who has organised the event almost single-handedly for the past seven years, has fallen on deaf ears.

Mrs Howgate, 52, of Cliffe Mount, Gomersal, said: "Nobody is willing to help with the organising so it won't be going ahead on June 12. I am very disappointed.

"A few people said they were willing to help out but didn't want to be involved with the organising which is the most important bit.

"I feel very sad the gala isn't taking place anymore because a lot of people always turned up on the day.

"When the gala started we had 2,000 visitors and in the past few years we've had at least 900 people.''

Catherine English, who runs Gomersal Post Office, said: "I feel sad the gala isn't going ahead. I went for years even when I didn't live in the village.

"But I think the lack of support for such events is a problem in many communities because people are so busy doing other things.''

Janet Wilson, landlady of the village's Bankfield Inn, said: "It's a shame about the gala because it was a good social event which brought people together.''

The gala was started in 1977 to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee and has been held every year since then. The committee used to have 14 members but numbers dwindled over the years.

For the past seven years the committee has been made up only of Mrs Howgate, who joined 20 years ago, her husband Derek and brother Peter Long.

Mrs Howgate did virtually all the work which included booking the venue, arranging entertainment, contacting organisations which wanted to hold stalls and organising the publicity.

But last year the part-time shop assistant announced she would be retiring and urged other villagers to take over her role to prevent the gala folding.

She said: "I was hoping younger people with new ideas would come forward.''

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