CARNIVAL club leaders in Watchet have launched an appeal for any video footage shot in the Kingsland area during this year's parade as they embark on a legal battle to stamp out a hate campaign. Club chairman Mark Bale told the Free Press this week that he had been forced to engage a solicitor and contact the police after several members of his committee had been "harassed, insulted and verbally abused" simply for being involved in the 2005 carnival weekend. "We are not prepared to tolerate this and we are taking it through the legal system," said Mr Bale. "But we do need the help of local people. What we require is anyone who has seen or heard any of the verbal incidents to come forward with a statement of what they have observed. "We also know that several people filmed this year's parade and we would like to see any video footage shot on Doniford Road by the Kingsland entrance where two verbal attacks happened on the day of the parade." Mr Bale said the problems had begun months ago and several committee members had been upset after a number of different incidents, in which malicious but false accusations relating to the carnival finances and other issues had been levelled. "It really isn't fair because we are all volunteers and we work very hard to put together the weekend of entertainment. We have to stamp this out now."
