The Kick Start Fakenham group has elected a new committee to move its ambitious plans forward - including the revival of the town carnival.Since its humble beginnings on networking website Facebook in February, the community initiative has now amassed more than 500 members, forced a public meeting, and held town events.

> The Kick Start Fakenham group has elected a new committee to move its ambitious plans forward - including the revival of the town carnival.

Since its humble beginnings on networking website Facebook in February, the community initiative has now amassed more than 500 members, forced a public meeting, and held town events.

In April it became a formally-constituted organisation, and elected the group's online creator Rachel Seretny as chairman and county councillor David Callaby as vice chairman.

But the pair have decided to step down due to work commitments, allowing a new committee to be selected to move the fledgling group into its next phase of action.

The new committee is chaired by 26-year-old Stephen Jacklin, with town councillors Jeremy Punchard and Lisa Smerdon elected vice-chairman and secretary, and Ann Mason becoming the new treasurer.

Stephen said the group's top priority was resurrecting the Fakenham carnival, and had set a provisional date for the August Bank Holiday.

He said: “We can't say it is definitely happening yet - at the moment, it is just about what is viable and what people are able to offer to make it happen. There are still a lot of hurdles to cross, but as soon as we said we wanted to do it, people started to expect it. Fakenham expects it, and Fakenham deserves it.”

Stephen said although Kick Start was formed through a sense of “alienation” from the workings of the town, it was now engaging with councils, public bodies, police and local businesses.

The group plans to promote itself at the Fakenham fireworks display and at the Christmas lights switch-on on November 28. A Wild West-themed fundraising night last month raised �446 for carnival funds, and the new committee also plans an Autumn Tidy Up in the town centre on November 14.

Stephen said: “The original members have been the driving force behind what's been going on, but they have had to step back for various reasons. But they will all stay involved. The more people who join, the louder voice we have and the more we can achieve. We just want to wave Fakenham's flag and celebrate what is good here.”

t For more information or to help with events, contact Stephen Jacklin on 07834 726217.