The organisers of the Newtown Carnival have hit back at negative comments shared online after announcing that the event will not be taking place this summer for the fourth consecutive year.

The carnival committee made an appeal for volunteers on Facebook on February 28, but due to a lack of people willing to help, they confirmed that the event would not go ahead with only 12 weeks to go until the big day.

In a post on social media, Chairperson Jen Reynolds described some of the comments made as "very hurtful" towards the small group of volunteers who work hard to organise the event, adding that without additional manpower, it was impossible to proceed with the carnival.

The committee has invited the public to attend a meeting on May 16th at The Monty Club on Broad Street to discuss the effort and time required to organise the event alongside other commitments, such as work and family responsibilities.

Some members of the public expressed surprise at the plea for volunteers, and criticised the organisers for relying too heavily on social media instead of alternative methods of publicising, such as posters, local news outlets, and schools. However, others urged the organisers to reconsider cancelling the event, citing the economic benefits to local businesses and the community.