TRADERS and residents are lamenting the loss of a carnival which attracts 30,000 revellers to the streets.

Brighton Kemp Town Carnival - the city's largest free streets art festival - will not go ahead as hoped this summer but organisers are desperate to raise enough money to bring it back in 2018.

The decision to abandon this year's plans was announced after deciding they did not have the money to put on the event, which has been held in Kemp Town since the 1990's.

It comes as the volunteer-organised festival faced increasing costs including nearly £8,000 in charges to Brighton and Hove City Council to suspend parking bays.

Carnival director Mat Cook said it will come as a disappointment to the community.

He said: "Unless somebody was going to give us the money, I was quite sure we would have to take this decision.

"We didn't make enough money last year and there were unpredicted costs.

"There will be some very disappointed people out there - all those 30,000 revellers. For a lot of local businesses it is the best trading day of the year."

Last week The Argus reported Brighton and Hove City Council would charge the organisers £7,880 to suspend 196 parking bays in Kemp Town.

In previous years the council has suspended 177 parking bays for free but city chiefs stressed the new charges had all been agreed at the end of 2014's event. Other council charges included £1,300 to clear rubbish after the event.

The group is still struggling to pay money to the council for last year's event.

Mr Cook added: "We held a very positive community meeting and lots of people understood our predicament and are very keen to help - there is a plan going forward.

"The council had implicated they want to be able to help us regarding future carnivals and I'm looking forward to working with them to see what can be done."

Traders and residents in Kemp Town told how they were sad to not see the carnival take place this year.

Alan Cowler, licensee at The Bristol Bar in Marine Parade, Brighton, said the trade would be missed by businesses in the area.

He said: "The carnival is great for trade in this area, as there is nothing else that happens in this end of town.

"It's a wonderful community event and we are sorry it is not happening this year, but we will fully support it next year and I hope the council continues to do the same."

Father Andrew Manson-Brailsford, vicar at St George's Church, Kemp Town, said: "The carnival gives people a sense of unity and community and offers them a chance to take part - that will be missed."

Community groups involved with the carnival last year also expressed their disappointment.

Jules Dienes, CEO of Somerset Day Centre, said: "Last carnival we had a great big open day and we opened it to the public as it was a really good way of demonstrating what we do in the local community.

"It was a fabulous day with our members talking to younger members of the community - it will be missed."

Organisers are now going to use this year to fundraise and restructure the community group in a bid to bring the carnival back in 2018.

Brighton Kemp Town Carnival's first fundraising event will take place in Horatio's Bar at the end of the Pier on April 15th.

People interested in volunteering their time to the carnival team can email carnival director Mat Cook at cooktherabbit.events@gmail.com