Tadcaster’S town carnival is set to be revived next year as part of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Town councillor Richard Sweeting said the authority was taking a lead in organising events to celebrate the jubilee and, after discussions with a number of people, the feeling was that the carnival could be brought back as a one-off.

“The younger generation will never have experienced the wonderful carnivals we used to have in the town and the community spirit that came with it,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be lovely to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in this way?”

The original Tadcaster carnival is thought to have fallen by the wayside in the early 1990s, but The Press reported in June 2002 how 2,000 people had celebrated the Queen’s Golden Jubilee by packing Kirkgate for a jubilee carnival.

Wetherby Brass Band performed and a number of stalls, games and displays lined the road. The then Chamber of Trade chairwoman, Angela Usher, said the town had never been so busy, adding: “Nobody wanted it to end, and we will be certainly doing something similar again.”

Coun Sweeting said a meeting would be held with organisations and businesses from the town to look for a way forward.

He said in the meantime, he would urge people to put the weekend of June 2 to 5 in their diary, adding: “If you are a member of a group or organisation, you may wish to think how you can be involved in the carnival procession or how you could take part in the day itself.”

Coun Sweeting, who will chair the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Committee, said he was also asking people to give some thought to reinstating Tadcaster in Bloom to make the town look beautiful in jubilee year.

“We have always had a wonderful community spirit in the town – let’s bring it together to celebrate the jubilee year in style.”