THOUSANDS of pounds of community funding has enabled this year's Halesowen Carnival to go ahead as planned.

Organisers were struggling to find sponsors to cover the £7,000 costs for the festival.

But festival chairman Stuart Henley said community forum funding had saved the day.

Mr Henley said: "This year it has been hard to find sponsors to help finance and bring Halesowen Carnival to the community.

"The event costs £7,000-plus and is organised by four volunteers giving up their own time to bring the community together and give you a day to remember.

"So this year I have applied to the Halesowen community forums. We put in for £5,000 from the forums and got this amount.

"We would like to thank the committees for this and would urge all to apply for funding for community projects within their areas."

The festival, at Highfield Park on Highfield Lane, will take place on Saturday, July 6, from 12noon to 8pm.

There will be a funfair, live music and dancing, food and drink, a dog show, animals from Dudley Zoo, a variety of stalls and more.

Mr Henley added that the festival still has availability for stalls if anyone is interested in renting one.

There is also still time for sponsors to get involved, while volunteers are required to assist on the day with handing out literature, litter picking and other duties.

Email halesowencarnival@gmail.com to get involved or visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/903983056364371/