A much-loved winter festival is under threat due to a shortage of volunteers.

Candlelit Dartmouth, now in its 10th year, is in danger of folding unless more people come forward to help run this year’s festive weekend.

‘Every year the festival has got more and more successful, meaning more to organise,’ said co-founder and long-standing chairman Steve Thomas, who is standing down this year.

‘That, combined with some of our committee stalwarts being unable to continue, could mean the future is in doubt for one of the town’s major attractions.’

But he said while the festival might be short of volunteers, it is certainly not because of any lack of interest from Christmas shoppers and stallholders.

‘Last year was our most successful ever, despite some pretty atrocious weather,’ he said.

‘Record numbers of lanterns joined in the highlight procession, while visitor footfall over the candlelit weekend was higher than on any other weekend during the last two months of the year. The Saturday of the event recorded a footfall 43 per cent higher than the average of the other eight Saturdays in the same period.’

Planning for the festive weekend goes on throughout the year with the committee meeting regularly, usually in the library at the Royal Castle Hotel.

Steve added: ‘We are a small team but we all enjoy the challenge of putting on the show. Hopefully, there are a few like-minded volunteers out there who would like to join us and help keep the festival alive.’

The main tasks for the team include marketing and managing the various entertainment events at the festival, as well as running the all-important lantern and craft workshops.

‘We’re particularly hoping to recruit some creative skills this year, along with a little more social media expertise but the main requirement is for enthusiasm and fresh ideas,’ said Steve.

To find out more about what is involved, email [email protected].