Bilston’s popular annual carnival has been axed this year due to renovation work at Hickman Park, it emerged today.

The two-day summer spectacular in the park has been a tradition in the town since as early as 1932.

Each year hundreds of revellers line the streets in July to enjoy marching bands and colourful floats.

This year would have been the 71st time the community event had been laid on.

Organiser Joe Boden said: “Unfortunately the carnival won’t be running this year. There will be a lot of machinery in Hickman Park with it being renovated and it would not be safe to hold it there.

“We considered bringing it to the town centre but when we looked more closely, we realised that we couldn’t raise sufficient funds to meet expenses, particularly as the insurance would be so high and we would be limited to small stalls.”

Mr Boden said that the carnival will be back again next year as normal. Last year, lower than usual attendance figures were blamed on Wolverhampton City Council taking down flyers advertising the event.

The carnival last year featured the procession through Hickman Park, an attempt on the world human domino record and music from 20 marching bands.

There was also a funfair, bouncy castles and stalls.

Hickman Park is also home to the annual Bilston by the Sea spectacular, which brings 120 tonnes of sand to transform the area into a beach. That has been running every August for eight years. The park hosts a bonfire party in November.