Decision on staging Leighton Buzzard Carnival 2020 expected in a month's time as princesses are chosen.

With the town's VE Day celebrations in May and Big Lunch event in June already called off due to the coronavirus pandemic, the chances of the July 11 carnival surviving look to be diminishing.

At the recent selection disco held at the Royal British Legion Club, Poppy Freeman was picked as Senior Carnival Princess and Charlotte Cox as Carnival Princess.

Carnival committee chairman Mark Freeman said the turnout for the selection was lower than usual, but under the circumstances was better than expected.

He said: "We are again grateful to the Royal British Legion Club for hosting the disco and for their support all through the year. The disco was run by Strawberry Fieldz, and we were sorry that they (along with many other local companies) are suffering from the necessary cancellations of events through the summer."

Prizes for the Princesses included balloons donated by Perfect Parties, flowers by Eagle Graphic Printers and a selection of other gifts. The judges were Hannah Blades (TACTIC centre), Matt (The Lancer) and Mark Saccoccio (Town Clerk).

Mr Freeman added: "No decision has yet been taken about possible cancellation of carnival, although it is looking more and more likely we will need to cancel.

"We will probably take the decision at the end of April, before the print deadline for the programme. We would, obviously, take a decision to cancel with heavy hearts, but we will do what is necessary to meet the safety constraints recommended by the Government.

"As with the disco, we are very aware of the effects this will have on our regular attraction providers, the Band that leads the procession and all the local groups who use Carnival as an important fundraising opportunity.

"Some bookings have been received for stalls, and fees are fully refundable in the event of cancellation, as are prepayments for adverts in the programme. In the event of cancellation, there will be no distribution of funds – there will still be costs incurred with little or no income which will draw on our small reserves.

"The Princesses selected for 2020 will, under these circumstances, be given the opportunity to take part in the 2021 procession."

2021 sees the 60th annual carnival of the modern era, having been revived by Peter Lymbery and the LB Youth Club in 1962. The committee's intention is to make the 2021 event a special event to mark this anniversary.