A CARNIVAL club in Bridgwater forced to leave its previous home has unveiled its new shed headquarters.

Hundreds of carnival-lovers gathered as Marketeers Carnival Club held a ribbon-cutting to launch its new Bristol Road base, built with help from friends.

The opening ceremony brought an end to a turbulent year which saw the club leave its former base at the Halfway Inn after 36 years.

Marketeers hope the shed, which is double the size of their previous one, situated on land leased from Bridgwater Carnival Committee, can spur them on to greater glories.

Alan Windsor, Marketeers club captain, said: "We must thank everyone and the organisation for their help during an extremely difficult year in the club's history.

"Without help the club would be in trouble and not in the position we are now in."

The club worked tirelessly to build the shed after last year's carnival, but Marketeers treasurer Dave Kirk revealed members and carnivalites' generosity helped raise almost half the cash to fund the base.

It was turned down a bank loan and decided to start a Buy a Brick scheme, charging at least £50 a brick.

Mr Kirk said: "There were 157 bricks in our wall of fame, with each sold it would pay for about 45 per cent of the shed's costs."

The wall now stands proudly at the new base.