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The future of Notting Hill carnival, Europe's largest outdoor festival, looks uncertain after organisers resign over lack of funding and volunteers.

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A shortage of funds, volunteers and disagreements over the level of policing have put the Notting Hill carnival in danger after its two organisers quit.

Despite attracting over a million people this year, Notting Hill carnival has no primary private sponsor. Co-director Chris Boothman, who has resigned this week along with Ancil Barclay, said the carnival has been completely underfunded and run by the both of them on a voluntary basis.

'It is still seen as just a Caribbean event and just not taken seriously,' said Ancil Barclay, one of the co-directors who handed in his notice this week.

'Carnival is not just a free-for-all party,' said Boothman. 'Its roots lie in celebrating the emancipation of slavery and it has high artistic values, but it is a struggle to uphold those values when it is so underfunded. Without full-time staff with experience of lobbying, the carnival would not get the recognition it deserved.'

Barclay is sure the 2012 carnival will still go ahead, but worries for the future: 'Beyond 2012 it is questionable because it is so underfunded,' he said. 'Most people don't realise this whole thing has been run by two unpaid volunteers. It should be a wake-up call: if you value the Notting Hill carnival, then invest in it.'

However, Boothman is uncertain of the carnival's success next year: 'I am worried about 2012, It needs a group of people that understand the need for proper investment and support by the authorities and that is not in place,' he said. 'We've gone because we don't think that, as things stand, we can do it ' and frankly if we can't, I'm not sure who can.'

Photo credit: Heather Rai

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