CARNIVAL chiefs have hit out at businesses which benefit from the money-spinning extravaganza but give nothing in return.

And they urged companies which made money from the annual event to dig deep and make a donation to charities the carnival supports.

Weymouth and District Round Table, which organises the event, hopes to donate more than £20,000 to good causes following the popular spectacular earlier this month.

But they say the figure would be higher if the many businesses within the town which benefited from the thousands of people who attended the event made a donation also.

Paul Parker, chairman of the carnival committee, said some firms did donate to the carnival fund and sponsored events but it was the sheer hard work of committee members which made it the success it is.

"The town was packed for carnival day with thousands of extra people and we believe that lots of organisations and companies in the town centre will have benefited from the day.

"But we very rarely see any money or a thank you coming back from them."

Mr Parker said it was becoming increasingly difficult to raise money, and soaring overheads including insurance costs which doubled this year, meant that profits were getting harder to achieve.

"The bottom line is, we are trying hard to raise money from various avenues through sponsorship of side shows and the main events, but we could still do with more support.

"Some businesses have donated, but others have not, but if they did it would really help to make the carnival continue to be the success it has been. We are not asking for much but £20 to £50 would be nice. It's never too late."

In a letter to the Echo Mr Parker thanked all those who helped to make the event a success by raising in excess of £20,000 for good causes.

He said: "Weymouth Carnival is the biggest charity carnival in the South West. It is an event the people of Weymouth can be justly proud of."

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the carnival can do so by sending a cheque made payable to Weymouth Carnival 2003 and sent to Weymouth Round Table, PO Box 173, Weymouth, DT4 9FR.