A POPULAR carnival has been cancelled after 137 years. 

Titchfield Carnival will not be running this year with organisers citing health and safety fears due to the size of the event. 

Run by the Titchfield Bonfire Boys Society, it is believed the first carnival was held in 1880 and last year drew crowsds of 7,000 revellers attend the event. 

Titchfield Councillor Connie Hockley said: "It's a great shame. I've been every year apart from one for the last thirty years. 

"The trouble is it costs a fortune just to be able to make sure that everybody is safe. It costs a lot of money. We have suggested that they bring in a charge for the event. But it's very difficult to have people at all the entrances to take the money. 

"It is a shame but I'm hoping it will be back." 

Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council said: "I am very sad to see this event go which I have attended for the vast majority of my life. 

"It was an extremely successful event with thousands of people attending."

Organisers had formed a new committee in February this year but at the time of going to press had not responded to the Echo's request for comment.