WORCESTER Carnival's chairman has refused to step down despite a hate campaign which included late night pizza deliveries and abuse after this year's last minute cancellation.

Malvin Hobbs has faced a torrent of abuse with people verbally abusing him in the street and sending threatening emails and late night pizza deliveries to his elderly parents' home after August 's event was cancelled with four days to go.

He was left significantly out of pocket when the event was cancelled with just four days' notice and his personal business has been affected by the abuse.

However, he has vowed to carry on and is determined to make next year a success with councillor Alan Feeney who came in as carnival president to salvage the 2017 event.

He said: "I can't step foot in Worcester. It's been a witch hunt and it's been horrific.

"I don't want £140 of pizza turning up on my parents' doorstep at quarter to midnight.

"Threats have been sent in via email and the pizza deliveries are still happening, I had abuse shouted at me while I was with my parents in Worcester.

"It's getting out of hand to be honest but it is in the hands of the police now.

"I also had a large amount of supportive text messages and if I didn't have Alan speaking to me every day and standing by me I don't know what on earth I'd have done.

"What it has proved is Worcester does want a carnival, it's always wanted a carnival but they need to get involved with it.

"If I knew then what I know now I would definitely have done things differently but unfortunately I didn't.

"I'm very fired up and ready for 2017."

The pair are now looking forward to next year's event and already the committee has grown from just two people to 15.

Mr Hobbs accepted the findings of cllr Feeney's report, available on the Worcester Carnival Facebook page about this year's event, and said valuable lessons had been learned.

Cllr Feeney joined the pair on the committee just a few days before it was cancelled and said it was clear nothing could have been done to save it.

He said: "Every question people had could be answered by the report - there was no cover up of things going on it was how things were.

"Mal has been the only one to stick it out and in many cases the abuse has been unfair and unjustifiable.

"Moving forward, we have a new committee who will be meeting next week.

"2017 is going to be fantastic and my job is to rebuild the faith and confidence and already we're forging ahead with that.

"People are interested in being involved and we're coming up with ideas for fundraising.

"I know people might not have a huge amount of confidence because 2015 was a damp squib and this year's didn't go ahead but I am staking my reputation as a councillor and events manager on this being a success.

The committee has promised to be transparent through social media and press reports and hope to make it as easy as possible for people to take part.

Cllr Feeney added: "That's why I will be the face of the carnival - it will give an identity to the parade and people know who they can come to with questions and queries.

"We're still thrashing out the plans for the day but it will be really quite an amazing thing as long as the public back us."

To get involved in Worcester Carnival 2017 email alan@alanfeeney.co.uk.

What about the charities that lost out?

WORCESTER Carnival 2017 will raise money for the two charities who lost out when this year's event was cancelled.

The chosen charities for next year will be Headway Worcestershire and HelpGeorgie, set up for a St John's toddler with cerebral palsy who underwent a life-changing operation.

Fund-raiser Julia Protesaru said: “Looking ahead, we are happy to hear that the carnival will be supporting our charity next year.

"After the official announcement and report over the 2016’s shortfalls, we were all relieved to know why the event was cancelled, as our members were able to understand that it was the better decision.

"We look forward to seeing this event take shape and we hope for plain sailing weather for the carnival’s committee and organisers.”

She also called on those responsible to stop the hate campaign against carnival chair Malvin Hobbs.

“We do hope people stop the hate campaign they have going on against last year’s committee.

"It is awful to hear that human beings can be so cruel and inconsiderate against other people who only wanted to bring joy to Worcester.”

The New Inn, Claines stepped in to help fundraise for Headway Worcestershire, the acquired brain injury charity, after service users had also spent months creating decorations for a float.

Clare Gibbs, mum of Georgie who underwent a selective dorsal rhizotomy to help her walk unaided, said: "It's great news that Georgie continues to have fantastic support from the Worcester community, especially now she is into the expensive aftercare programme."