ORGANISERS of Westhoughton Carnival are putting out an urgent appeal after they failed to receive one single entry from girls hoping to become their next festival Queen.

They are also struggling to fill the four other VIP positions and fear the contest to choose the lucky winners on May 3 may have to be cancelled.

With just a matter of days to go before the selection process begins, organisers have received only two entries for boys and girls hoping to become the next Queen, Junior Queen, Princess, Rose Bud and Page Boy.

Rita Fairhurst, secretary of Westhoughton Carnival Committee, said: "We need help. If we haven't got any contestants we can't hold the contest.

"We need someone with a happy disposition who is willing to work for charity and go around to other carnivals.

"Ideally, we would like people from the town, but we would welcome anyone from the borough or outside, we are becoming so desperate."

The committee will have to decide soon whether to hold the competition or not. If it does not go ahead, they may ask current queen Beverley Hodson to continue in the role.

Mrs Fairhurst, who has been involved with the carnival for 19 years, said she could not understand why there had been so little interest.

She added: "I don't think a lot of girls realise that to be the Carnival Queen of Westhoughton would be a great honour. Many seem more interested in going to pubs and clubs."

Gifts

Girls aged 16 or over can become the Queen and will receive many gifts from local businesses. The junior Queen is for girls aged 13 to 15, the princess for 9 to 12 year olds and the Rose Bud and Page Boy for 5 to 8 year olds.

The contest is being held at Greenfields Private Members Club on Wigan Road between 7.30pm and 8pm. Anyone interested in entering the competition should call Rita on (01942) 813084.

Westhoughton Carnival will be held on Sunday, July 8, this year. There will be a procession and a fair on Central Park. The town's Shirley Bassey look-a-like, Maxine Barrie, who appeared on the very first Stars in Your Eyes, will be appearing.