MONMOUTH Festival is to host an exciting new event this year – a chariot race.

The race, which is to be held on the Chippenham Fields, will follow the annual carnival parade on Sunday 31st July.

The controversial decision to host the chariot race comes as committee members fight to keep Monmouth Carnival exciting after ever increasing legal red tape administration and spiralling costs forced the Kymin Dash to be cancelled on the Festival's Family Fun Day.

For full story see Beacon 22/6/11