Chance to create logo for carnival

So – what does Shepton Carnival mean to you?

What images burst into your brain when you think about the town's big event of the year.

How would you sum up the very essence of Shepton Carnival?

If you have any bright ideas for a logo for Shepton Carnival then organisers need you.

They are inviting the whole community to put their thinking caps on and enter their competition being launched this week.

There are three age groups for entries – up to 11, up to 16, and over 16 (their age when the competition closes on March 23).

There are cash prizes of £15, £10 and £5 for the first, second and third place winners in each age category, plus a prize of £50 for the overall winner of the competition.

The judges of the competition will by Shepton Mallet Carnival Association chairman Don Clifford, Pylle artist Joanna Miln and Shepton Mallet Journal reporter Fran Weelen.

The winners will be announced after March 23 and will receive their prizes at the Shepton Mallet Carnival Committee cheque presentation event on Friday, April 27 at Bowlish House, Bowlish, Shepton Mallet.

The entries from the top three prize winners in each age group and the overall winner will be displayed in the 2012 carnival programme.

Organisers hope to have all entries on display at their stands at Collett Day and the Mid Somerset Show.

Entries may be on paper or in a digital format and the competition is open to all.

"We have never ever had our own proper logo before," explained Mr Clifford. "We feel it is about time we brought ourselves into the modern world and have a logo which is easily identifiable as Shepton Carnival – wherever it is used. We hope lots of schools as well as individuals will be interested in taking part."

The logo must fit inside a circle 12cm in diameter, be simple, eye-catching and easily recognisable as representing Shepton Mallet and carnival. It should be suitable for use on existing purple or black clothing.

The logo must be able to be reduced in size to use as a letter heading (approximately 2cm) and to be enlarged to fill a poster (approximately 25cm).

Entry forms are available to download from www.sheptonmalletcarnival.org.uk and are also available from Shepton Mallet Tourist Information Centre or from Shepton Mallet Cobblers. Entries may be returned to the TIC or the cobblers' shop before close of business on March 23.