DO you have what it takes to put on Oxford's biggest street party?

The team behind the Cowley Road Carnival are looking for 'new blood' as the current chairman steps down from the role after a successful five years.

Brian Trotman will finish his term as chairman of the board of trustees for festival organising charity Cowley Road Works on December 31.

He has overseen the parade grow to become fixed as one of the cultural highlights of the city's calendar.

Mr Trotman said: “Oxford is a great place, made by its community, one of the most diverse and multi-cultured in the country.

"Delivering Carnival, such a great day, a celebration of and bringing this great community together, just has to be done, the people deserve it.

"It’s hard work, can be fun and the vibe on the day makes it all worth it. “

The riot of colour and music is the flagship event of Cowley Road Works and last July hundreds of performers danced, sang, played music and performed spoken word on 34 stages, with 650 people in total involved.

The event generated more than £1million for the area, as well as attracting tens of thousands of revellers.

Mr Trotman, a chartered accountant, said he felt now was the right time for him to go, adding: “I’ve been with the charity five years now, most chair roles only last three years and I’m looking forward to spending time in the future pursuing personal and family interests.

"It is the right time to welcome new blood in to the organisation, someone with a fresh pair of eyes and the time, experience and motivation to take Cowley Road Works, to the next stage.”

He is going out on a high, with Cowley Road Works this year awarded the Oxfordshire Business Award for Cultural Events and Tourism.

In addition, the charity's outreach projects and cultural activity events put on throughout the year to make a social impact and help community cohesion are also thriving.

In 2017 Arts Council funding of £90,000 enabled numerous projects including working with children from four primary schools to create artworks based on their exploration of world-class science and technology at the Harwell Campus; music-making and recording with the Young Women’s Music Project, Street Art which can be seen at five sites adjacent to the Cowley Road, as well as flag-making with Restore mental health charity.

Cowley Road Works have said they are looking for someone with "strong and strategic leadership and vision to lead this next exciting phase in the charity’s development."

Anyone who has an interest in the arts, cultural events and creating stronger communities can go to cowleyroadworks.co.uk and download the recruitment pack or contact executive director Johannah Aynsley via director@cowleyroadworks.org

The charity is also recruiting for a treasurer, a position that was also held by Mr Trotman.