SIR,

Monmouth's carnival is on Sunday 27th July, in less than six month's time. There's always a huge amount to prepare, but as with all the best traditions, it needs to keep evolving.

The Carnival Group want it to be even better than last year. This could be a serious challenge without Rob Campbell's ever-inventive momentum. We want to keep the free-to-enter procession down a traffic-less Monnow Street, with its music, its floats, bikes, cars, dancers and walkers. The competition to ride down, representing The Spirit of Monmouth, is another definite.

Monmouth Carnival now has a burgeoning reputation, visitors have already booked rooms and campsites, in expectation of another great family event, partly because so many other towns have had to abandon theirs. Our unique combination with Monmouth Festival volunteers is to be envied.

Please don't be shy. Even if you cannot commit the time to joining the group, but you have ideas to enrich the day, please come to our open meeting at 5.30pm in Wetherspoons, Monmouth, on Thursday 20th February, or put your suggestions on MonmouthCarnival.co.uk/facebook or the website Monmouth Carnival.co.uk

Already, the Green Dragon has promised us a fund-raising quiz evening on Sunday 25th May.

Offers of ideas and help are coming in fast, so if you'd like yours to be discussed, please tell us about them.

(Monmouth Carnival Group)