ORGANISERS of this year’s Corsham Flower Show have warned that it could be the last event in its 50 year history due to plummeting numbers of entries and people attending.

Treasurer Jim Leech and show secretary Maureen Cundict have said that a steady decline in interest over recent years has made them worried about the event's future.

Mr Leech said: “It is a distinct possibility for all sorts of reasons that it could be the last show.

“It has become more expensive and we originally ran it on the Bank Holiday Monday but potential cost at the new campus to hold it on the same day was hugely expensive. We had to shift the dates to the Sunday but as a result on of our biggest exhibitors can’t make it.”

The show, which has been running for around 50 years, used to see nearly 1,000 entries each year into the 200 categories.

But now, that number has fallen by half – something which they expect will fall further due to the day change of the show.

Mr Leech added: “If you get enough people through the doors it would be a help but we do not get enough entries so it seems to be all over the shop.

“I have lived in Corsham for the last 50 years and I have always gone to the flower show and it was always something to do on the Bank Holiday Monday.

“We wish it would be a lot more popular but the sad thing is that the older generation who used to go are too frail or old to come and that is why I hope that people come along and that it wouldn’t be the last show as it is would mean losing something Corsham is loved for.”

Despite last year's event being held on the Bank Holiday Monday, Wiltshire Council honoured previous arrangements the Corsham Gardeners Society had with the old community centre to allow it to still go-ahead at a cost of £300.

However, if they wished to continue to hold the event on the popular day this year, it would set the society back £1,200 as it would mean opening the Springfield Campus on a day where it is normally closed.

Mrs Cundict who has been a member for many years said she would be saddened to see the show come to an end.

“It would be a real shame. It always used to be on a Bank Holiday Monday and this year it will be on the Sunday so until we have wait until the show is over to see how many people show up,” she added.

“We used to get nearly 400 people coming through the door each year but it isn’t like that anymore. It is a big event for Corsham and we are probably the biggest show in the area.”

The flower show will take place this Sunday at 2.30pm at the Springfield Campus.