Fears raised Guy Carnival's 'big heads' will be destroyed

While the town’s unique carnival dates back to the 1850s, the papier-mache ‘Bigheads’ debuted in 1956 when the carnival returned for the first time following a break through the war.

The attraction has become a staple since then, with carnival-goers donning the likes of Scooby Doo, Shrek and Toy Story Bigheads over the years.

But it is now feared the big heads will be destroyed if a suitable storage solution is not found.

Wendy Taylor, whose father was one of the original big heads, said the masks needed to be kept dry for use in future carnivals.

The hope now is to raise awareness and find someone with a barn or container to store the bigheads.

She added: “The warehouse space we have had for the past seven years, provided free by DSV will no longer be available after November this year.

"It is no fault on anybody's part, it is just no longer available. 

Help - Guy Carnival Bigheads need a new home (Image: Submitted)

“DSV have been amazing during the time the heads were stored there, helping us move them every year to make them available for people to borrow and then helping us move them back after the carnival.

“There is no bad feeling, we just need to find a new space in which to store them.”

Wendy said the big heads were first introduced by the Marine Shops of Parkeston Quay.

"Geoff Stokes, my father was one of the original bigheads and danced along with the Marine Shops marching band," she said.

"My dad taught me and a friend to make our first bigheads when I was 9 years old.

"I then went on to teach my own five children Laura, Becky, Dani, Beth and Josh how to make bigheads from a very early age and they entered the carnival in smaller scaled-down heads as soon as they were old enough to walk.”

Dire - Guy Carnival Bigheads face being destroyed if a suitable storage solution is not found (Image: Submitted)

"Now they are all adults with husbands, wives, partners and children of their own, the group has grown massively.

"I also re-married and my wife, stepchildren and step-grandchildren have also joined in and learned how to make bigheads. 

"We make new heads every year and aim to entertain the bystanders en route just as my dad did in the early days by dancing along with the band, nowadays this is usually loud music from one of the floats."