Port Bannatyne's gala day at the end of May has proved a welcome addition to Bute's summer calendar since its inception in 2005, but the main mover behind the event says there has not been enough local support to allow the event to happen at the end of this month - and without the money raised at the gala day, there may not be enough in the pot to pay for the village's Christmas lights later in the year.

Alison Dunn, a founder member of the Port Bannatyne Neighbourhood Watch Association, which organised both the gala day and the festive lighting display, told us of her disappointment at the decision to cancel the 2008 event - but said she hoped it would return to the island's calendar in 2009.

"There has not been enough support this year to allow the 2008 gala day to go ahead," Alison confirmed this week.

"I am obviously upset that a lack of helpers has forced this decision. I hope that this year will be a one off and that people will rally round to support a 2009 gala day.

"Unless we get more help we will not be able to put up the Christmas lights this year. Both the lights and the gala day are of benefit to the whole island so I hope that, if people want them to continue, they will help."

Anyone who would like to offer their assistance can contact Alison directly on (01700) 504862, whether they live in the Port or elsewhere on the island.

But Argyll and Bute councillor Robert Macintyre, who represented Port Bannatyne until the reorganisation of the council ward system last year and has himself been a star turn at past gala days, said: "I greet this news with disappointment. It is a shame that, Alison, who is the driving force, has been forced to make this decision.

"It has been an extremely successful day, which has been due to her."

The news has broken just days before the launch of an exotic new sporting development in Port Bannatyne - the launch of the village's own pétanque club, one of only 12 in Scotland, taking place this weekend.

The Port's sub-postmaster Donnie MacLeod, who also chairs Bute Community Council, told us: "There is a lot going on in the village with the window box decoration team and the new pétanque club.

"Maybe too many organisations are trying to do too much. The gala day certainly takes a lot of organising, and it is a major hands-on undertaking on the day."