AFTER an absence of more than three years Mylor May Fair is to be reinstated thanks to a small band of volunteers.

All the money raised by the event on May 10 will go towards the upkeep of the village's playing fields and to raise funds for play equipment.

The event, starting at 2pm, will be opened by long-term resident Mary Martin and is being marketed as a chance for families and friends to meet and enjoy a pleasant afternoon together.

The highlight of the day will be Maypole dancing by the children of Mylor Bridge School and a fancy dress competition.

The event will include stalls and refreshments as well as other activities including "bash the rat", "beat the buzzer" and a "penalty shoot out" as well as a raffle and tombola. Music will be provided by Sound Barrier.

In an open letter to village residents, the chairman of the playing fields commitee, Stephen Andrew, calls for help in making the day a sucess.

"The playing field committee needs your assistance and encouragement for a sucessful May Fair which is vital for the future of the field," he says. "We cannot achieve this without your support and any suggestions you may have."

Mr Andrew says he was disheartened by recent leaflet criticising the playing fields committee.

"I must confess a leaflet criticising the playing fields committee has made me ask the question 'why do we bother?'."

"It seems that those that do the least have the most to say. However, the fantastic response to our efforts to once more hold a May Fair have more than made up for those negative words.

"We very much hope the May Fair will once again become an annual event where children of the village school dance around the Maypole on the field which was reserved for them very much in mind."

The state of the playing equipment on the field has come in for criticism from some residents recently who claim it is in a dilapidated and dangerous state, especially in the light of hi-tech play area recently opened in Flushing.

The giant wooden sailing ship on Flushing Bowing Green was paid for by villagers who sucessfully raised over £30,000 through a series of fundraising events, but mainly by applying for grants.

Plans are now afoot for some Mylor residents to form their own action group to raise money for new play equipment in the same way.

The King George V Playing Field committee is a charity, totally independent and wholly reliant on funds raised by events such as the May Fair.

The playing field was first opened in 1952 but the main area up to Six Turnings was acquired for the village in the 1960s by local residents and a generous benefactor.

If it had not been bought it would almost certainly been developed for housing.

The playing fields host a wide variety of users, including the school and the cricket club with matches being held throughout the summer.

The fields are owned by Mylor parish council and members are recognised as the trustees. The playing field committee manages the fields.