There was dismay today after Brighton's annual summer carnival procession was scrapped after 36 years.

Organisers Brighton Lions blamed new Government guidelines which mean the cost of providing adequate safety arrangements has more than doubled from £2,000 to £5,000.

The Lions say they have been unable to find a sponsor to meet the extra expense, despite talks with several large companies.

Today, Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper and Brighton and Hove mayor Jenny Langston called for the procession, watched by thousands of spectators every July, to be saved.

Lions president Bruce Nunn said: "It's very sad. There just isn't the money available, so we had to cancel the procession.

"We can't organise a procession with the new safety guidelines. We've only got 34 members and the police are saying we have to have four stewards for each float."

Around 25 floats are featured in the annual procession, which goes from Hove seafront to Preston Park, meaning 100 stewards have to be found.

If not enough volunteers are available, police charge £36 per hour for each constable on duty.

Mr Nunn said: "How could we afford that? We would need cover for four hours, getting it all organised, and that would be very expensive.

"The procession doesn't raise more than about £1,500. The actual carnival in Preston Park is where most money comes from. We are keeping that bit, but I'm not sure what ending the procession will mean. It is going to be hard to raise the same level of interest in the carnival without the procession."

All the money raised from the Lions Carnival goes to the Leo House Children's Hospice Appeal, which is backed by the Argus.

At the height of its popularity the one-and-a-half-hour long procession attracted 50 floats but interest has dipped in recent years.

Mr Nunn said: "It's getting harder and harder to get people to run floats.

"We used to be sponsored by Seeboard but now there's no one.

"Without extra money coming in it's proving impossible for us to organise the procession.

"It's irritating that bureaucracy, in the form of safety guidelines, has robbed Brighton of a popular community event."

Coun Langston said: "It's terribly sad news for Brighton. It's such a nice day for everyone when the sun is shining and people line the streets in a celebration of the community.

"I'm sure something can be done to save it. The Lions and the council will have to get together to discuss arrangements.

"We did a really good job organising the millennium celebrations in the Old Steine, so I'm sure this important event will be back next year with a bit of effort from everyone."

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper called on people to volunteer as stewards to make sure the procession can be reinstated in 2001.

He said: "It's been one of the highlights of the summer for such a long time."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.