Support us or it's over!

They say this will be the last carnival if the public do not come out in force and support the event. The carnival has been struggling to attract more cash to the show which costs between £30,000-£50,000 to stage each year.

Colin Prescott, carnival press officer, said: "We hope people buy the patrons' badges which are in the shops next week at £3, or a programme, also £3, which contains discount tickets for the fairground, or come on to the field when the price will be £3 on Saturday and £2 on Sunday. If we do not get a big response to those, there will be no carnival next year because we have used every penny of reserves to put this carnival on."

He added: "There's a lot of goodwill out there and potentially a lot of money and we need the chance to tap it, but the only chance we have got is if the people support it."

Mr Prescott would not reveal who the celebrities are this year until contracts are signed. But the line-up for the carnival, which takes place on August 17, 18 and 19, includes some wild, wacky and wonderful entertainment. Friday night starts at 7.30pm with carnival bingo plus live band In the Red (10.45pm).

The procession on Saturday assembles at 11am, and afternoon events include a classic car display; Dingle Fingle, the clown with largest water pistol in the world; and the crowning of the Carnival Queen.

Saturday evening entertainment includes cabaret with Back to the Future performing Sixties and Seventies, Liverpool comedian Tom Pepper, and six-piece show group Night Games.

On Sunday, there's five-a-side soccer for under 11s and under 14s for the Ryan Giggs Trophy, plus children's races (help is needed for this, call Colin on 01257 482043). There's also church service at 6.30pm.

Full details are in the carnival programme.

The Wagon and Horses, Market Street, Adlington, is the venue at 8pm on July 17 when the carnival committee will holding a public meeting about the show.