The much-loved torchlight procession is at risk and a petition has been launched to help save it.

The annual event, which includes a crowd walking from Bridport's Bucky Doo Square to West Bay with burning torches, has been the spectacular finale to carnival week since 1971and has given locals and visitors much enjoyment over the years.

Unfortunately, its future is now in jeopardy.

A spokesman for the Bridport Carnival Committee said: "After the 2019 carnival, the Bridport Carnival Committee was notified that Balfour Beatty was no longer prepared to close the A35 at the Crown roundabout for the half an hour it takes for the procession to pass through to West Bay - nor will it consider diverting traffic through the town.

"It has been the prime contractors for managing arterial routes on behalf of South West Highways Group since 1996 - the same group that assured us that the new road would not affect our carnival.

"The carnival committee's offer to help with costs and employ security was to no avail."

There isn't an alternative route that the torchlight procession can take, other than going through the underpass.

The spokesman added: "Obviously, thousands of people carrying lit torches in a confined space with a 'ceiling' would not be acceptable to insurance brokers due to health and safety for both torch bearers and walkers, and we could not continue the event without insurance.

"Without the income from the torchlight procession, the carnival would no longer be viable.

"We have been waiting for a meeting between the interested parties - Bridport Town Council and Chris Loder MP - since the 2019 carnival, but it has been postponed, then put on hold because of Covid.

"We want to lobby Chris Loder to hold this long-awaited meeting so we can get a swift resolution to this matter, so planning for a spectacular 2022 event can be set in motion.

"We would ask you, and your friends and family, to sign our online petition to show the strength of feeling regarding the continuation of this lovely event."

You can find the petition here.

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