THE team behind Dunbar Civic Week is urging volunteers to get involved to ensure the popular event continues to grow.

The annual event kicks off on June 14 and runs to June 22.

Sue Anderson, co-ordinator of Civic Week, which started in 1970, gave members of the town’s community council a progress update.

She said organisers were feeling “a bit overstretched” and were concentrating their energy and resources on one day of activities on the opening Saturday.

Sue said: “We’re planning to pack a real punch on the opening day on Saturday, June 14 – all the fun of the parade, which last year was one of the biggest in East Lothian, with alsothe crowning ceremony and the crazy Sunny Dunny derby on High Street.

“And then we can all head round to Lauderdale Park for our fun day – stalls, shows, bar, food, fun family races, plus live band playing great music to get everyone dancing to round off the day!

“Thanks to the success of last year’s programme and our efforts to create a well-publicised platform for the community to showcase its activities, various groups in the community have come forward with some cracking new events for us all to enjoy.” Coast to Coast Surf School, with support from Dunbar Harbour and East Beach Neighbourhood Group, will run various events at East Beach.

That will include kayaking, stand-up paddling and swimming for all ages and abilities.

Sticking with the water scheme, the coastal rowing club hosts its annual regatta on the same day.

Back on dry land, Dunbar Film Society will not only be hosting the DAFTAs (Dunbar Amazing Film Talent Awards) for budding film-makers but also Movie Madness Monday, with a great selection of films being shown at West Barns Village Hall.

A photography competition will also be held through Morris-Jones Photography with the theme of ‘inspiration’ and the winning entries will be shown at the Bleachingfield Centre during Civic Week.

Mrs Anderson was confident that the event would still be a massive success, despite the drop in volunteers.

“I find it a little bit sad we have not had more members of the community coming forward to help us organise the programme,” she said.

“We’re still very buoyed about what the community will do for Civic Week but we need more support before the committee disappears.” A quiz night was also held at Belhaven Church Hall recently to raise money for the event.

Mrs Anderson said: “These events are just a fraction of what is in the full programme, which will be launched on Saturday, May 10. “We’re extremely grateful to Dunbar Community Council, East Lothian Council, Belhaven, Thurston Manor, Lothian Locks and the Dunbar Trades’ Association for their support of this year’s programme. “We’re holding our Race Night on Friday, April 25, at Hallhill, so please turn out to support us.” Committee members have set a target of £10,000 to cover the costs of Civic Week.

A spokeswoman said: “It sounds quite a lot but with community support of our fundraisers, sponsorship, donations, collecting cans and ticketed Civic Week events we believe it’s do-able.”