The organisers of Market Drayton’s annual carnival are set to stand down in a protest gesture today – leaving the future of the event in jeopardy in a row over funding for the carnival.

Every member of the seven-strong committee claim they will resign at tonight’s annual general meeting, and warn that if no one comes forward to take their place, there will not be a carnival in the town next year.

The move comes after the committee did not get a grant from Market Drayton Town Council towards this year’s event.

Members of the carnival committee say they cannot afford to risk their personal finances to put on the event next year, which costs £13,000 to stage.

Roy Blase, committee vice-chairman, said the group usually had a grant from the town council, but this year did not receive anything.

But Janet Smith, chairman of finance at the town council, said the council did not receive a grant application from the committee, but invited the group to apply again next month.

Mr Blase added: “We are still going to resign, and we’ve had nothing from anyone else to say they are interested in coming forward. We’ve invited town councillors to hear our views, but at the moment we’ve had no one say they’re looking to take over, so it looks like there won’t be a carnival.”

The carnival has been running for more than 10 years and normally attracts crowds of about 5,000.

The annual meeting will be held at Jeffro’s Bar, High Street, at 7.30pm.