BRIGHTON’S most colourful street party could return bigger than ever this summer.

The Kemp Town Carnival is expected to return to the city following a year’s sabbatical with organisers saying the event is in a much stronger financial position than ever before.

Having taken last year off to develop a self-financing plan, the eighth running of the carnival is set to return to the city streets on Saturday, June 4 after securing significant sponsorship funds towards the £60,000 annual running costs.

And this year's joyous celebration could be bigger than ever with organisers in talks with Brighton and Hove City Council to expand into Upper St James’s Street.

Adding an additional street would allow organisers to offer visitors six live music stages alongside three performance and street theatre areas.

Organisers said the expansion has already been backed by St Mary's Church, Somerset Day Care Centre, residents and traders in the street as they seek the two-thirds majority support in favour of the proposed road closure.

The carnival’s financial future is looking more sound following 2014’s successful event, which saw 25,000 revellers attend, and further fundraisers which have cut a previous £12,000 debt in half.

Further good news has come after significant sponsorship deals were agreed with Hartleys Wines and estate agents Sawyer and Co with more fundraisers planned ahead of the summer including the official launch party at the Komedia in Gardner Street on February 12.

Organisers will also learn at the start of March whether they have been successful in their bid for £30,000 of Arts Council funding.

Geoffrey Bowden, Kemp Town Carnival chairman, said: “These deals will provide the carnival with a sounder financial base than it has ever enjoyed over the last six years.

“As public sector funding for community events has dried up, the Kemp Town Carnival Association took the difficult decision to take a sabbatical during 2015 to allow a longer period to raise the funding necessary to finance the event. "I’m pleased to say that strategy looks to be paying off.”

To sponsor this year's Kemp Town Carnival email sponsorus@kemptowncarnival.com.