ORGANISERS of Weymouth Carnival have launched a raffle to help raise funds for next year's event - with one business donating £500 worth of fish as prizes.

The event - which will mark 100 years since the first Weymouth carnival - is due to return in 2021 following a two-year absence and is expected to cost around £60,000 to stage.

To help boost funds, carnival organisers are holding a raffle which will run until December 19. Volunteers will be out in force to sell tickets, with all of the proceeds going towards funding the event.

The prizes are all vouchers which can be spent at Weyfish, a fishmongers on Weymouth Harbour. The top prize is £150 worth of vouchers, the second prize is £100 worth of vouchers, the third prize is £50 worth of vouchers and there are eight prizes of £25 vouchers up for grabs.

A spokeswoman for Weymouth Carnival said: "We are really pleased to be running the raffle, and the lucky winners can treat themselves to having a lobster on Christmas Day!"

As previously reported, Weymouth BID has donated £15,000 which organisers hope to spend on a display by the Red Arrows.

A spokeswoman added: "To get the event up and running again with events like the Red Arrows, fireworks, a beach procession and all the other core things that make the carnival what it is, we need support from the public and from local businesses."

Volunteers, who will be dressed as sea creatures, will be out in various locations in Weymouth town centre every day until December 19 to raise support for the raffle, excluding Sunday, December 5 and Sunday, December 12. The raffle draw will take place at 3pm outside Weyfish on December 19.

Sean Cooper, owner of Weyfish, said: "We are a big supporter of lots of local causes and we would love to see the Weymouth carnival return next year so we have really happy to support them by providing the raffle prizes.

"As we are nearing Christmas, raffle winners can treat themselves to lobster, prawns and crab to have on the big day."

Carnival organisers are still appealing for community support for the event. To join the committee or to sponsor Weymouth Carnival 2021, email volunteer.weymouthcarnival@gmail.com or promotion.weymouthcarnival@gmail.com