organisers are hoping this year’s Cowley Road Carnival will be the best yet – despite schools having half the amount of time to prepare costumes because of a cash crisis.

Last year schools had nine weeks to prepare costumes and props for the colourful bash which usually attracts about 30,000 people.

This year, however, the Headington Schools Partnership has lost out on £17,000 of funding, so it has only enough cash to pay artists to supervise the project for four weeks.

As a result it is now all hands to the pump for 14 Oxford schools which began producing carnival costumes outside school hours last week.

Schools co-ordinator Lesley Williams said: “We have had to cut back on the number of weeks, cut out meetings and paying school staff to be there to help and they’re having to do it for the love because the budget had to be trimmed down.

“We’re doing it in a bit of a rush – last year the momentum built up, but sometimes it’s better to work that way.

“Despite the adversity we feel it’s coming on well and I’ve had emails from two schools to say it had gone really well.

“Last year was the best procession but I think we can make it better still this year.

“Some people want it (the procession) back on the road but for the schools it was a much better setting in the park. At the top of the park the children have an amazing view of Oxford in front of them and the procession looked fantastic as it wound its way down the hill.”

The carnival is on Sunday, July 4.

The main carnival procession will take place in South Park at 3pm.

Cowley Road will be closed to traffic for a procession of magnificent machines accompanied by musicians and robot dancers at midday.

After missing out on a £12,000 grant from the Arts Council and £5,000 from the Tesco Community Fund, the partnership is spending £11,000 this year.

Cheney School has 25 children making a 12ft robot and accompanying “cog army” for the carnival.

Head of art Michelle Johnson said: “It’s all hands to the pump but it’s always like that with the carnival.

“It’s going well and the children are working really hard.

“It’s great to see all the different cultures of Oxford come together and celebrate the carnival.”

Year 8 pupil Weronika Buzdygan, 12, said: “I’m really happy, the carnival is fantastic and it will be fun to be part of it.”

In April carnival organisers also missed out on an Arts Council grant – worth £50,000 – before Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council agreed a £40,000 bail-out.