What has happened to community spirit in Brighton? There was a time when the resort was famous for it.

But last year Brighton Lions had to cancel their carnival parade for the first time since 1967.

Now they are axing their carnival in Preston Park after only 7,000 people attended last year, less than a third of the numbers who went there when it was in its prime.

Brighton also had to cancel the annual Burning the Clocks parade which brought life to the centre in the depths of winter.

The city council has arranged nothing special for the Queen's Golden Jubilee and there has been a notable lack of interest by residents in organising street parties.

People will still flock to big events such as open air concerts or Party In The Park, aimed at teenagers every June.

They'll go to big sporting events like football matches and they'll watch free firework displays.

But ask them to pull together in a common cause such as raising money for charity at the Lions carnival and they don't seem to be interested any more.

It could simply be that the carnival was getting out of date and that a more modern formula would attract the crowds.

But if that's all, neither the Lions nor many other charity organisers has found out what it is.