A NEW committee has been formed to try and re-start a popular annual village gala in Cross Roads.

People interested in bringing the event back to life met in the Bronte Hotel last Wednesday evening (July 22) to begin thrashing out their plans.

They were able to put together a committee of six people, though are still looking for a secretary and a treasurer. The committee is being chaired by Peter Clarke, who is a parish councillor and was involved with the previous gala organising group.

Local resident Tito Arana, who is also a councillor and is on the new committee, said the Cross Roads gala had not been held for about four to five years.

"It was the highlight of the local calendar," he added. "About a couple of hundred people used to turn up, if not more.

"The village has been quite bereft of anything similar since it stopped.

"We know how popular this kind of event is. We know people are crying out for it, because when we held a bowls and barbecue event in Cross Roads on Park on July 18 we had nearly 100 people come along."

Mr Arana said the gala had featured a procession through the village, followed by races, fancy dress, stalls and other entertainment in the field behind Lees Primary School.

He added that he and the rest of the committee were aiming to hold the first instalment of the revived event in mid summer 2016.