Many thanks to all those who helped us stage the carnival and street festival this year. The production costs to put on these popular events are now very high and so we are grateful to all those who acted as sponsors and to those who lent equipment or gave their time to make it work. We couldn't do it without you.

I've noticed there is some debate about the number of floats' appearing in Devizes Carnival (Gazette, September 6). Some people still think that if there are not lots of lorries in the procession it's somehow not a proper carnival. How wrong can you be. Most of the big modern carnivals don't have any at all.

With the local exception of Pewsey and the Somerset carnivals, often the only lorries seen in the big carnivals are carrying bands or sound systems for the costumed entries that are walking/dancing.

In Devizes we have been encouraging people to take part in costume workshops. The technique has been to give practical advice on materials and design to groups of leaders who can then run workshops themselves.

We are making these training workshops available to anyone who would like to take part in one. We would like to hear from other community groups, all ages, who are interested.

Traditional lorry floats are always welcome as well, but there are not many people around who want to make this type of carnival entry. New insurance requirements are also making it expensive and difficult to use lorries in a parade.

Over the next few years we can look forward to a whole new generation of people taking part in carnival through these workshops. Please contact us through the carnival website www.devizescarnival. co.uk.

Dave Buxton Carnival chairman