ORGANISERS of this year’s Royal May Day event are still on the lookout for volunteer stewards and people to carry buckets for this year’s festival collection on May 2.

One of the organisers, Eileen Podmore, said the committee was also keen to point out some concerns, which occur every year, and could hopefully be resolved ahead of the 151st festival.

Eileen said: “We would like to request that no coins are thrown to or at the children during the procession, which might be fun for those watching, but could cause serious injury if a child is hit.

“Equally, horses taking part in the procession should be treated with the greatest respect as these are heavy animals and do not like to be hemmed in by crowding people blocking their way.”

Eileen said the procession often developed gaps due to dancers performing along the town streets and those watching began to walk off.

She added: “The public should note that the procession has not finished until the royal May queen has passed in her landau.”

She also advised that roads in and around the town centre should be kept clear particularly of parked vehicles and especially on Stanley Road, Ladies Mile, and Sugar Pit Lane, adding: “Sometimes residents have visitors who are not aware of this, or if you are a new resident to the town, you may be unaware of what is going to take place.”

Eileen said extra bins would be available for rubbish in Canute Place and would be reopened to traffic once the road was cleared.

Costumes for the general characters participating in the procession can be collected from Egerton Sports Club, Mereheath Lane, on Friday, April 24, between 3.30pm and 5.30pm.

For more information and to volunteer send an e-mail to either ee.podmore@ntlworld.com or ang197x@yahoo.co.uk