BLACK History Month celebrations in Trowbridge are under threat after an application for National Lottery support was turned down.

Organisers needed £10,000 to fund the event, and the rejection has left them needing an extra £7,000 to make sure events next month go ahead.

The appeal was unsuccessful due to wording in the West Wilts Community Club's constitution that the Lottery believed restricted people from joining the society.

Leader of the organising committee Heather Patrick said: "To become a member you have to live in the area for two months, then be nominated by an existing member.

"The lottery said that this closed the group to new membership."

She added: "We were very disappointed. We weren't relying on it, but thought it was a sure-fire thing. It's really set us back."

Mrs Patrick even took this week off work in her desperation to raise money.

As a lot of the Black History Month events are geared towards young people, Mrs Patrick is looking towards organisations like Wiltshire Youth Arts Partnership for support.

But if backing isn't secured there is a real chance that celebrations could be called off.

And with a lot of artists volunteering their services, and materials needed for workshops, time is running out.

Mrs Patrick said: "The last meeting before it is due to start is on September 28, so if we haven't got money by then I'm going to have to cancel it."

The Lottery rejection is just one of many setbacks that Black History Month has faced.

The committee approached several local businesses for raffle prizes but only A-Class Limousines, in Trowbridge, have come forward, donating a free ride in one of their cars.

And their efforts to secure a famous face to launch the celebrations also failed.

Lenny Henry and Dame Kelly Holmes failed to respond to emails, and the 'Black Farmer' Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, the Conservative Party's candidate for the Chippenham seat at the next General Election, is unable to appear due to a prior engagement.

But a sculpture commissioned for the celebration will be ready by October 13, when the all day festival of black culture is due to take place at Trowbridge Civic Hall.

Created by Trowbridge stonemason Noel Morgan, it depicts the heads of an African man and woman joined together.

Mrs Patrick said: "We wanted something that encompasses the spirit of black culture.

"As this will hopefully be the first of many black history events we would like it to be sited somewhere in the town."