ORGANISERS of the Cowley Road Carnival have promised to 'up the ante' next year as they revealed plans to run programmes and events all year round.

Cowley Road Works - the charity behind the event - announced its intentions to establish a 'stronger foothold' in the city's arts and cultural scene and hoped the carnival spirit could have a positive social impact all year round.

More events will be held with partners such as the O2 Academy and The Bullingdon as well as a 'picnic and proms' event early in the summer which it is hoped could become part of the city's cultural calendar.

The charity's executive director Johannah Aynsley said: "At the moment we are establishing a stronger foothold in the arts and cultural scene of Oxfordshire delivering beyond the carnival all year round.

"We want to use the carnival itself to inspire new and exciting cultural projects.

"We have plans to really up the ante content-wise for next year's carnival."

Tens of thousands of revellers poured into Cowley Road and its nearby streets for the city's biggest street party in July this year.

School children, community groups and families across the city spent months crafting procession decorations and energetic performances to celebrate the carnival's theme All the World’s A Stage - commemorating playwright William Shakespeare.

An evaluation report of July's carnival estimated that carnival-goers earlier this year spent nearly £900,000 in a single day, providing a significant boost to the local economy.

The charity said that next year's planned events and outreach programmes to reach those less likely to be involved in the carnival, would cost more than £120,000 raised for this year's celebrations but hoped it would be worth it.

The report read: "It will require a little more resource to support these efforts, but based on this year's experience, this will be repaid - and more - by greater social impact, stronger relationships and collaborations and will ensure it is more than one fantastic carnival celebration, even if it is a brilliant day.

"This will be about the culture and spirit of the Cowley Road Carnival delivering positive social and wider impact work and outreach all year round."

Last year's 'Pay a Pound' scheme run on the day to encourage people to donate £1 to keep the carnival going raised more than £7,000 - nearly three times more than the previous year.

The theme for next year's carnival will be revealed later this year along with more details events throughout the year.

The charity's next event will see them hosting a stall at Oxford's Christmas Lights Festival on November 25 - with mince pies, mulled wine and a raffle.