A MEETING on the future of Eastleigh Carnival will be held tonight.

Organisers of the annual summer celebration announced earlier this year that it is set to fold due to dwindling volunteers and an “uncool”

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The town faced losing a week-long schedule of events that included dog shows, fancy dress parties, barn dances and cabarets – culminating in a colourful procession through the streets watched by thousands of people.

But as reported in the Daily Echo, community leaders have announced that plans are in the pipeline to keep some form of the event going.

More than 150 people have now signed up to an Internet campaign supporting Eastleigh Carnival.

And it is hoped that businesses and volunteers will now turn up to a public meeting to try to save the event.

Councillor Chris Thomas, chairman of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee, said: “We’re not going to be discussing why it has or hasn’t gone – it’s to see what can be done to go forward.

“The option of a procession this year is probably not going to happen because it’s too late. But there are other possibilities.

“We have got an offer of doing dragon boat racing and we might be able to do that down at Lakeside Country Park.”

The meeting starts tonight, Thursday, April 26, at 7pm at the Civic Offices in Leigh Road.