LARGS Yuletide has been saved after a crunch meeting to decide it's future.

The News told last week how organisers were set to pull the plug on the event due to a lack of volunteers and cash to run and stage it.

A last ditch bid was made to rally support was made through an SOS plea in our pages - and a flurry of support will see the much-loved event go ahead on December 4.

However, organisers warned the community and local businesses they must continue to support the event to safeguard it for future years.

A summit took place at Largs Library where it was decided that the showpiece of the Largs winter calendar since the 1980s can be saved.

However, chairman of Largs Events, who run Yuletide, told the News there is now a race against time to organise this year's spectacular.

Ian Murdoch said: "We had a good turn-out at the meeting and the good news is that Yuletide night can go ahead.

"We have a few ideas which will follow last year's model.

"We don't have a lot of time to organise things now but we are moving forward and hope it will be a great evening for families."

Mr Murdoch re-issued his call for more people to get involved and help with fundraising.

He said: "We need a strong group of volunteers from the local community and businesses to help with the running of the event. We don't want to be back in a position where the event is hanging by a thread. "We want it to grow and be well supported."

He added: "The main business of the meeting was to increase membership and volunteers to manage Largs Events.

"We welcomed two new members on the night with two more expressing an interest in joining.

"Three local businessowners registered to assist the committee. As a result we decided to go ahead with Yuletide, which is only five weeks away.

"We are working hard to put on the best event we possibly can.

"Rosemary Giovino works very hard and does a brilliant job of pursuing sponsorship and booking entertainment for the event and she has already secured sponsorship for a major feature.

"Individuals or community organisations who want to take part please contact us on 07944 722 027.

"We are still looking for members to joining the committee and will hold another meeting on 7 November at Largs Library at 7pm."

The snow globe feature, which was one of the highlights of last year's event, will be returning after repeat sponsorship was secured from Dawn Homes.

Rosemary said: "We are delighted that it is coming back. "There will be lots of cartoon characters for the treasure hunt around the shops and we have a balloon artist coming back again. We also hope to have some circus entertainment and are trying hard to bring in some fairground rides after responding to feedback.

"The more people we have got helping us the more we can actually do."