A CARNIVAL could be in crisis if local businesses don’t help keep it afloat.

Organisers of Dorchester Carnival are calling on the area’s firms to keep a carnival tradition alive by entering a float for the parade.

Their plea comes after the number of floats signed up to appear in this year’s carnival has fallen to 40.

Last year’s packed parade featured 55 floats.

Dorchester Round Table member John Palmer blames the lack of entries on the recession.

“I think it’s the economic climate at the moment because of the cost involved with making the floats.

“I’m not panicking yet, but it would be nicer to have more entries,” he said.

Dorchester Carnival faces the crisis as it heads towards its 40th anniversary.

“The entries have been trickling in very slowly. But a lot of the commercial entries seem to be staying away this year,” Mr Palmer said.

The deadline for float entries to the parade has been extended until June 10. Walking entries are also needed.

Floats representing the county town’s businesses and organisations will take to the streets in all their finery for the parade on June 20.

Mr Palmer said: “I appreciate that people aren’t able to spend extra on things with the recession. We want to make the carnival an event in Dorchester that people really want to come to.

“The companies themselves do benefit a lot from local people.

“I feel that everyone should put something back into the community, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a big or small donation.”

Contact John Palmer on 01305 264163 for a procession entry form or download an application form from the website at www.dorchestercarnival.co.uk