Oxford 's annual Lord Mayor's parade WILL go ahead next month thanks to an Oxford Mail appeal.

The Oxford Isis Lions Club, which organises the parade, feared the traditional fundraising event, due to take place on Monday, June 3, would have to be called off because only a handful of groups had entered.

But following Thursday's appeal in the Mail for more community groups to take part in the procession, the Lions have now received 14 entries, including five from organisations offering to decorate floats.

The Lions agreed at their last meeting that the parade would have to be called off if they could not muster up enough support to put on a decent show.

The event is normally held on the last May Bank Holiday, but the date had to be pushed back this year to coincide with the Jubilee Bank Holiday.

Lions club president Mike Moon said: "We are very grateful to the Oxford Mail because this is the most important fundraising event of the year for us. It also gives the new Lord Mayor a chance to meet the people of Oxford because he or she leads the parade in the mayoral car and presents prizes to people who have taken part.

"What we still desperately need is a band to accompany the parade."

Those who have offered to take part include the Balliol Day Nursery, staff from the Apollo Theatre and the Strawberry Fayre Majorettes, who rehearse in Cowley Parish Hall in Between Towns Road.

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Gill Sanders, said: "I am hoping we will get even more entries now that we have such good backing from the Oxford Mail. Hopefully the sun will shine and we will have a very good day."

The Oxford Bus Company has also pledged support by offering its gold and purple Jubilee bus for the parade.

Commercial manager Phil Clark said: "We think the Lions Club does fabulous work and are only too pleased to support the event."

Bands and other organisations willing to take part in the parade should call Mike Moon on 01865 730296 or Bryan Keen on 01865 776948.