PEOPLE are being urged to join a dedicated group determined to restore Crewe Carnival to the events calendar.

Darren O'Connor wants to revive the spirit of the popular town festival which was last held a decade ago.

With a background in construction and events management, Darren, wants to assemble like-minded people to take on the challenge of starting the event up again by 2023.

Crewe Carnival was hugely popular in its heyday with thousands turning out to watch the procession of imaginative floats, dancing troupes and marching bands make their way around town before heading for Queens Park for a gala of entertainment, including stalls, musical acts, a fairground attraction and fireworks.

Held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the event even attracted Jason Donovan to its main stage in 2008.

"The carnival was hugely popular back in the day. I used to run a paintball site and we had a stand in Queens Park on Carnival day, but that was over 10 years ago. It's sad to think it has been gone so long," recalled Darren, from Crewe, who was a regular attender with his family in his youth (see the picture gallery of snaps).

"I put an appeal on Facebook about two years ago to see if anyone was interested, but I didn't get any volunteers.

"Now I'm trying to get people to come on board and I'm trying to find sponsors that are willing to put their names up. I believe there are a lot of small companies that would like to do something.

"I'm really hoping there are some like-minded people out there who are interested in bringing the carnival back to Crewe."

Darren says he wants to establish a group of up to around 15 to 20 people who are keen to work on the project whether by giving up a "a day a week or even just a couple of days a month" of their time.

Darren, who has completed stage builds for the Stereophonics' concerts at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in recent years, added: "I've got lots of contacts in the event management industry.

"But I want local people to get involved too. With the right people I believe we can get this off the road. I want people who could volunteer their time and push it to another level of commitment."

The carnival began to falter when restoration work at Queen's Park forced a switch for the main event to King George Playing Fields.

There was an expression of interest last year in staging a revival with a Facebook page called 'The Peoples Carnival Of Crewe' hoping to get people together, as Darren hopes to do with his appeal.

"I've watched the demise of the town and losing the carnival is part of that," he pointed out.

"I know we are a small town, but other places still have their carnivals. Getting it back on would put Crewe on the map. The aim would be to do it properly too - for instance I don't think it's Crewe Carnival without a procession."

If you are interested in helping Darren get a Crewe Carnival revival up and running, he can be contacted via email at [email protected]