POLICE and council chiefs have refused to grant a road closure order for next month's Colchester Carnival.

The decision made on health and safety grounds means traffic will be clogging the route through the town centre which 3,000 people on floats and on foot are set to follow for the September 4 carnival.

Angry organiser Ian Goldsworthy has threatened to go ahead regardless as a protest against the "unhelpful" attitude of highways officials.

But Essex Police, Essex County Council and Colchester Council all say it would have been irresponsible to back the parade as safety concerns have not been addressed by Mr Goldsworthy.

See tomorrow's Gazette for the full story.