A SPARSELY' attended fun fair was the only replacement for this year's Penketh Carnival.

The historic procession of floats and bands from school and church groups was gone and a small collection of rides on Greystone Rec was all that was on offer.

Most of the people the Warrington Guardian spoke to at the event were not from Penketh, and did not know about the carnival and its history.

Residents were upset at the change.

Petra Hill, from Broad Oak Avenue, said: "It used to be lovely. The play groups and Scouts all had stalls and it was really nice and more community orientated.

"I think it's very important for the community that it should survive."

Her Daughter, Pippa, aged nine, said: "It used to be a community event. Now it's just people from everywhere."

Hilary Hall, from Greystone Road, said: "This doesn't compare at all. There's just not as much going on."

Phyllis Boyd, from Greystone Road, said: "It was a charity event. They had stalls and tombolas. This is a commercial event."

The event was crippled two years ago when the police said they could not afford to provide the nine officers needed to make it safe.

Last year, a stop-gap event was put together that included donkey rides, a dog show, a bonny baby competition and karaoke.

However, the carnival is on a list of 12 events that will be funded next year, as jointly agreed by the council and the police. So the question is: Will it return to its former glory? Or will the hiatus prove fatal?

l What do you think? Let us know by e-mailing sbailey@guardiangrp.co.uk