THE organisers of a wheelbarrow race scheduled as part of the Minehead Grand Prix town centre cycling weekend made a last-ditch appeal this week for competitors – or they will have to scrap the event.

It was hoped that the new race would be added attraction to the cycling events taking place on a circuit around the town centre on June 22 and 23.

But it is now at real risk of not taking place at all.

“Watchet has no problem in attracting over 30 teams and we haven’t been able to get one,” said Graham Sizer, chairman of BID, one of the organisers of the Grand Prix event.

“All the other events are nearly fully booked, but while entry forms for the wheelbarrow race have been available for nearly a month, no firm entries have been received.

“We wondered whether even two beer stops and £100 of prize money would be enough to attract entrants.

“It’s a mystery – Watchet has proved for years what a fun event it can be.”

The deadline for entries for the 550-metre race is this Sunday (June 9) and the organisers are hoping for some last-minute entries to save it from being scrapped.

As well as being available at various outlets in the town, race instructions and entry forms can be found on the Minehead BID website.