PREPARATIONS for the biggest event in Wroughton’s calendar are getting underway this month.

The Wroughton 2012 Carnival will take place on July 7 and the organising committee has already started preparing for the big day, so is on the look out for more helpers.

As well as the popular procession, which each year sees thousands of people lining the streets, a scarecrow competition is being held to attract the crowds with this year’s event taking on a heroes and villains (real or fiction) theme.

A spokesman for the organising committee said: “The scarecrow competition is becoming very popular and at the end of March we already had 27 scarecrows registered.

“We are now in the process of organising the entertainment for the 2012 carnival and we plan to have several local groups performing in front of the stage, and a number of musical groups performing on the stage from 6pm until 11pm.

“We are also now taking bookings for stalls for the Weirfield and we are on the lookout for more helpers.

“If you are interested in joining the committee you would be very welcome, but if you don’t want to be on the committee but would be happy to give up a couple of hours on carnival day to help, please get in touch with any of the committee members.”

Participants are also needed to impress the crowds during the procession.

Last year, the spectators were kept entertained with entrants from a variety of groups including the Cricklade Marching Band, Tick Tock Playgroup, Wroughton Junior Football Team, Wroughton Infants, Junior Wadams, Romanska School of World Dance and Swindon Samba, among many others.

This year, organisers are hoping for an even bigger turn out for the event, which will begin at the Fox and Hounds, travel through Church Hill, High Street, Wharf Road, Kerrs Way, Perry’s Lane and Moormead Road before finishing up at the Weirfield.

Anyone who is interested in booking a stall can call Belinda on 07801935539 or email carnival-secretary@ hotmail.co.uk Registration for the scarecrow competition closes on June 8 and participants are reminded not to start making their scarecrow until it is registered to avoid duplicate entries.

To register, call Jenny on 01793 635299 or email wroughton-scarecrow@hotmail.co.uk To keep up to date with the carnival programme of events, visit www.wroughtoncarnival.

co.uk or visit the Wroughton Carnival Facebook page.