A VILLAGE gala day which attracts hundreds of people every year has been cancelled for 2018 due to a lack of volunteers.

Jane Owens, organiser of Lochwinnoch Gala Day, confirmed she has been forced to pull the plug on the popular event after no-one came forward to help her.

The annual celebration has been running for 13 years and, in 2017, attracted more than 1,000 people to the village’s public park.

Mrs Owens, who was organising the event on her own this year, needed help as she would not be available on the day or in the week leading up to it.

But, despite issuing a plea for volunteers a few weeks ago, no villagers came forward.

Mrs Owens said she is extremely disappointed that this year’s event has had to be scrapped.

She told The Gazette: “I really just needed someone to shadow me and for someone to deal with any last-minute problems in the week leading up to the event and on the day.

“It’s a very important event for the community and it’s a really fun day. The feedback we got from people last year was great. They said it was the best one there had ever been.

“My main concern is that, after being in this position this year, I don’t want to be in the same place next year.

“I want to get back to the days when there was loads of enthusiasm. People just get complacent nowadays.”

Last year’s event had a pirate theme, with villagers dressed up in colourful outfits.

People also enjoyed some music from the 1st Houston Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band, a performance by Pulse Dance Academy and the chance to browse through a variety of stalls.

When the gala day was first organised, there was a committee of eight people but this has dwindled over time.

Mrs Owens said she hopes local residents will get back on board next year.

She added: “I don’t want to have to cancel the gala day again but I am not going to take it forward on my own.

“It’s a wonderful event which is about getting the community together and having fun and it’s something everyone enjoys.

“I do hope we can get a committee together next year, as the more help we have, the less work there is to do.”