THE team behind Oxford’s Cowley Road Carnival has issued a “use or lose it” warning as the economic slowdown threatens to affect the county’s biggest free public event.

New organisers are at the helm of this year’s carnival, but have admitted they may struggle to match last July’s show, which attracted a record 35,000 people.

Danielle Battigelli, the interim co-ordinator at new carnival organisation East Oxford Action Charity, believes it is unlikely a full-scale carnival will be held this year, due to funding deadlines.

She said: “There will be some sort of event to mark carnival and keep the momentum going, but the scale of it depends on the support available, both financial and administrative.

“People must not take carnival for granted, particularly with the current financial climate. This is a bit of a wake-up call, because, while no-one is thinking the worst, carnival will not happen if people don’t come forward and support it – they need to be part of making it happen.”

Last year’s event cost £200,000, with 26 streets closed, a procession of hundreds of people, seven sound systems and four entertainment stages.

Cowley car maker BMW has been the main sponsor of the event in recent years.

A BMW spokesman said: “We have supported the event for the past three years and we have been pleased to do so. It’s clearly an important local event, but we have not been approached in relation to this year’s carnival.”

Ms Battigelli said informal conversations had been held with the company, but said the charity was trying to attract sponsorship from several sources, rather than relying on one key donor.

Last year, Arts Council England made a one-off £75,000 payment to organisers and Oxford City Council gave £13,500 – a grant application to the council will be considered next month.

Ms Battigelli did not rule out a full-scale carnival this year, but believed it was ambitious to expect the new charity to stage such an event straight away.

She added: “It’s vital that people come forward to help now, because we’re at a turning point. Carnival can really take off in its own right, but it needs support.”

Former organiser East Oxford Action has £13,500 left over from last year’s event – but closing the roads alone costs up to £40,000.

Clinton Pugh, who owns three restaurants in Cowley Road, said: “As the years have gone by it has become more successful and it’s a real boost for this part of town. Oxford will miss it if it doesn’t happen.”

Anyone who wants to get involved with organising this year’s carnival should call Sue Hunt on 07980 607137, send an e-mail to suehunt01@hotmail.com or call Geno Humphrey on 07868 657215.