LITTLE Ollie Butler had to have stitches after a coin thrown at Bridport Carnival narrowly missed his eye.

The five-year-old was standing at the start of the procession when one of the first collecting floats came past and he was hit by a coin. Sadly he had to miss the rest of the carnival and the fair. His mother Lianne said despite the incident she was 100 per cent behind the carnival, but thinks people should not be encouraged to throw coins.

"I have supported the carnival for years, we love it," she said. "I would be upset if they stopped it."

She praised the people in Revolutions - where the family waited while her husband went to get the St John Ambulance - saying they were a wonderful help.

To improve safety spectators have only been allowed to throw coins into the back of specific collection vehicles in recent years. Volunteers also walk with each vehicle.

This year carnival organisers also issued warnings that coin throwing was a serious issue and could affect the future of the event. Shaun Fox, chairman of the carnival committee, said: "We were very sorry to hear this happened and we will be reviewing the collection vehicles.

"The committee is going to look seriously at the future of carnival as it is."

Procession manager Karen Hussey has written to the family this week.

She told them: "On behalf of Bridport Carnival Committee, I was extremely upset to hear of the injury your son sustained on Saturday night.

"It saddens us to think that an event we have organised has led to him being hurt in this way. Prior to the Carnival we tried to publicise the dangers of irresponsible coin throwing though press releases in the Bridport News and in our programme but it seems some people have not understood the seriousness of our pleas."

She said that if carnival takes place next year, and the family approve, Ollie would be invited as a special guest to ride in the procession.