MELKSHAM Carnival organisers are warning people of rogue balloon sellers who have been imposing as clowns during the event – fleecing parents of hundreds of pounds.

The unknown group have already been making appearances at carnivals throughout the county, but this year, organisers of Melksham Carnival have made a public notice to warn people that they are not part of the procession.

Beth Dark, who has been on the carnival committee for the last nine years, said the unwarranted group are making a “roaring trade” from the carnival as parents hand over £5 a time for a balloon.

“They do not give anything to the carnival and we do know who these people are. Last year, they were making balloons in a sword shape and we giving them to children who then went to their parents to ask if they could buy them for around £2-5 each,” Mrs Dark said.

“What we later found out after the procession was that they went into Melksham Party in the Park and then dressed up in superhero outfits, inviting children to have their photos taken with them. They were charging people around £5-6 for the privilege and we are just amazed at how they have made themselves part of the event.”

The carnival is set to take over the centre of Melksham on July 18 but Mrs Dark, along with other organisers, hopes to create awareness that will run throughout other events later the year.

She added: “We need to find a way to stop them and it is totally unacceptable. If they were genuine sellers, they would have to come through us as organisers and as to be part of the procession.

“The problem of them doesn’t go away. They come back at Christmas and start selling flashy lights at the switch on and other places and we don't know if what they are selling is even safe.”

Since posting the photo on Facebook, Mrs Dark has received hundreds of comments from people supporting the awareness campaign.

“I am quite impressed at how quickly our messages have spread and the only way we think to stop them is to not give them any money. Melksham Carnival happens quite early in the summer calendar and we are hoping that other organisers will adopt what we are trying to do in warning people.”

Having lived in Melksham her entire life, Mrs Dark added: “I am protective of the carnival and I am protective of Melksham. The law is very hazy and the police have said they can remove the sellers from the procession and arrest them for not having a pedlar’s license but we do not have the time to stop them and that is why we are asking people to take notice.”

The one approved item which is being sold by organisers at the carnival is a programme, with the proceeds being reinvested into the next year’s event.