Truro's City of lights parade has been saved from closure by emergency financial support from the city council and Totally Truro BID.

Last month it was announced that due to concerns over crowd safety and access - both costly parts of the annual event - the parade would be cancelled and replaced by an installation in Victoria Gardens.

Now with added funding the parade will take place as usual on November 23, from 7pm, using the same route as last year, with no event in the gardens, although bosses have warned that more funding will have to be found if the event is to continue.

City of Lights artistic director Tony Crosby, said: “Twenty years ago we set out to create a new and special tradition for Truro. It seems we have.

“Each year we create something unique and beautiful from scratch. And each year more and more people want to come and see it. This is wonderful but it has increased our costs beyond measure and our current business model is no longer sustainable.”

City of Lights is run by a small community interest company, with a group of trustees who give their time and energy to secure funds, create, plan and deliver the event which has seen safety and regulatory demands increase but budgets remain static.

This year the group was granted emergency funding on the understanding that new ways of financing the event are found, and the key lies with businesses in Truro and donations from the public.

Amanda Harris, City of Lights trustee, said, “Last year with an audience of 30,000 people we collected just £1,500 – this is less than 5p per person and is shameful. If people love this event, they must contribute to it or it will not continue. That is the stark reality.

“The responses to the proposed changes have been mixed – some have been beyond negative – but we have listened and, thanks to the support from Truro City Council and Totally Truro BID, we have been able to secure this much-loved event for this year”

Neil Scott, BID manager, added: “This is one of the most popular nights in Truro’s calendar, which brings the community out into town on a dark wintry evening with a sense of awe and pride. In order for it to be sustained for the next twenty years, it needs the people of Truro and the visitors to better support it through giving more. If we collaborate together we can continue to create and enjoy one of the biggest spectacles outside of the big cities.”

A series of initiatives such as Crowdfunder, sponsorship and collecting on the night will be launched for this year.

Donations can be made on the City of Lights website www.cityoflights.org.uk . If you would like to volunteer to collect money, or even to run a coffee morning to raise funds for the event, contact info@keap.org.uk