A POPULAR Hampshire carnival is to take a year out.

Eastleigh Mardi Gras has been cancelled this year after organisers said they could not find enough time in their diaries to organise the event.

In March the Echo reported comments from co-founder and former borough councillor Keith that the event would be at risk this year.

Now, Cllr Chris Thomas, another co-founder and deputy mayor of Eastleigh, confirmed that there would be no Mardi Gras in 2017.

“Unfortunately this year, because of my duty as deputy mayor I really don’t have the time. There’s a number of us involved. We are all very busy people and unfortunately we couldn’t find the time,” he said.

“I would like to thank the community for their support in the past and look forward to seeing them in the future.”

Five years ago a group of volunteers stepped in to save Eastleigh Carnival and re-invented it as the Mardi Gras.

Borough councillor Alan Broadhurst, cabinet lead for wellbeing, said: “It’s sad that the event won’t be run this year. We want to encourage people to come to the centre of Eastleigh and enjoy themselves. I do hope that we can run it again next year.

“It was popular and it was always well-attended and a well-run event. I’ll be discussing with councillor Thomas and see what can be done and whether we can make it possible.”

Scroll through the gallery to see pictures of previous Eastleigh Mardi Gras events