AN ILMINSTER Carnival Club is on the hunt for a new home after the lease expired at their current base of operations.

Harlequin Carnival Club has been given a one-year extension on their time at Parshalls Farm in Donyatt, but will have to move on before October 2021.

The group's 2019 entry won six prizes at Chard Carnival, including best routine, best music in procession, Mayor’s choice and the Chard and Ilminster Plate for public choice.

They also claimed seven awards at Ilminster Carnival in 2019, with best feature cart, best build up, and outstanding individual performance among them.

Members took to social media to share their appeal for a new place to build their cart.

They said: "To our followers, friends and carnival family, we hope you are all safe and well. The year 2020 is certainly a year like no other.

"October would ordinarily be the time in which we would be full swing into the carnival season, alas the current pandemic crisis has put a temporary hold on many social and cultural activities; carnival is not exempt.

"Unfortunately, it is also a year when Harlequin Carnival Club learned we will soon have to move on from our current build home at Parshalls Farm in Donyatt.

"Our lease with our landlady has come to an end, and we wish to thank Anna and her family for allowing us to share their home over the last eight years and wish them well for the future.

"We have secured a temporary lease with the County Council to stay at the farm, but have to move on by the end of October 2021.

"This is of course a bitter blow, we had become settled in our new home and have had our most successful run of results from carts that have been built in Donyatt."

Plans are in place to create a large unit where some of the district's clubs could be based and build their carts.

However, plans were first submitted in 2018 and a decision is yet to be made by SSDC. Amended plans were submitted for the site in August of this year.

The club added: "Currently there are ambitions for a South Somerset Carnival Park to be created to house several local carnival clubs and committees. It is hoped this kind of development will prevent situations like ours, and give the clubs and committees the security required to safeguard the future of our carnivals.

"However such a project is not guaranteed, and is currently held up in red tape with the local planning teams and district councillors awaiting their approval. The project timelines unfortunately will be delayed beyond our current needs.

"Whilst we are fully supportive of such a project, with 12 months left to go at our current location, now is the time for us to plea with our friends and supporters.

"We are once again in search of that parcel of land, corner of a field – somewhere to hang our costumes and call home, whether this is temporary or permanent.

"We would like to call on every person reading these words to be on the look-out for us; together we will find somewhere and start once more."

If you have an idea that could help secure a new home for the club, you can contact them through facebook.com/HarlequinCarnivalClub.

"Those that were with us eight years ago know what it takes to move," the members' statement added.

"We are a stronger club today and whilst it will not be easy, we are confident we can emerge stronger still."