Rose Fair to return with donkeys and barrow parade

Donkeys will feature wearing colourful garlands and floral displays

A festival first held in 1963 is set to return after a five-year break, complete with a parade of donkeys decorated with garlands.

The Wisbech Rose Fair, in Cambridgeshire, stopped running because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lack of volunteers and running costs.

However, Wisbech Town Council has promised to "safeguard" its future.

The event, on Saturday, 29 June, will also feature the daring gardening skills of the Blue Barrow display team, made up of local Royal Air Force cadets.

"Covid first ended it, but after that volunteers were getting older and losing energy," said Rose Fair committee member Alan Wheeldon.

"But now we have enrolled over 20 people from all different walks of life.

"I think it is fantastic to have the fair back.

"It really brings the whole community together."

Alan Wheeldon said the event needed to continue running

Volunteers decorated their donated wheelbarrows for the Blue Barrows display team

The festival sees lorry floats take part in a parade through the market town and floral displays in St Peter & St Paul's Parish Church.

Wisbech Town Council said in a statement: "There was a recognition that we had to 'walk before we could run' and start with a fun event, with the potential to grow and thrive in coming years."