THE glorious summer weather drew crowds to Watchet’s annual carnival on Sunday.

The harbour town was filled with festival-goers dressed in a colourful array of outfits.

Carnival organiser Mark Bale said: “The turn-out was up on the previous two years – we had between 2,000 to 3,000 people.

“The weather helped and we also opened up our festival field at the top of Brendon Road for extra car parking space, which encouraged a lot of people to stay longer.

“A lot of the shops and cafes stayed open and must’ve had a good trade, and a lot of the pubs put on entertainment afterwards, which extended the event.”

This year’s Carnival Queen was Lauren Sherrin, 13, who has just completed her final year at Danesfield Community Middle School in Williton.

The best overall entry, decided by a panel of judges, including Steve Grainger from Butlins and Pam Bosley from Warren Farm, went to the Esplanade Club.

They were presented with the Watchet Town Council Trophy for their Watchet Goes West entry.

The award for best humorous entry went to Mark Mossman, who dressed as The Stig from television show Top Gear.

Entertainment included a street dance demonstration by Minehead LA dancers, a coconut shy and charity stalls.

The festival ended with an outdoor barn dance at 7pm.

RESULTS

Trophies: Carnival Queen (Jade Chatfield Memorial Trophy) -Lauren Sherrin; Best Dressed Shop (John HamiltonMemorial Trophy) -St Margarets Hospice Swain Street Watchet.

Best Dressed Boat Award: Mr & Mrs Valentine (OPS); Best Illuminated Boat Award: Mr & Mrs Nesbitt (Moon Shadow).

Class Winners: Best First-time Entry - 1 Lastminute.com (From the Depths); Best Alien - 1 Somerset Language School (Saalfelden Austria); Best Vintage Vehicle - 1 The Chamberlain Family (1947 Field Marshall Tractor), 2 Mark Grove (1956 Standard 10); Best Custom Vehicle - 1 Great Western Cars (Asquith), 2 Mark Mossman (Bottom Gear); Best Driver - 1 Esplanade Club (Richard Burnell, Watchet Goes West); Best Walking Single - 1 David Milton (Keep Young & Beautiful) 2 Ray Waterman (Punch & Judy); Best Walking Pair - 1 Dee Mayo and Jan Barker (Watchet Corn Dollies); Best Walking Group - 1 Parrot Club (If I knew you were coming I’d have baked a cake) 2 Little Vikings (Over the Rainbow); Best Humorous Entry - 1 Mark Mossman (Bottom Gear) 2 David Milton Keep (Young & Beautiful); Best Dressed Oddity - 1 Little Vikings (Over the Rainbow) 2 David Milton (Keep Young & Beautiful); Children, under 11 years – 1 DREAMS Dance (Recycle Rockers) 2 1st Watchet Cubs (A Pirate’s Life for Me) 3 Parrot Club (If I knew you were coming I’d have baked a cake); Best Feature Float under 30 - 1 DREAMS Dance (Recycle Rockers) 2 Zippy Eammon (Nick & Crew Old Macdonald’s Farm); Best Feature Float over 30 - 1 Esplanade Club (Watchet Goes West), 2 Watchet RBL (Candy Man); Best Pub Entry – 1 Esplanade Club (Watchet Goes West), 2 Watchet RBL (Candy Man); Best Overall Entry - 1 Esplanade Club (Watchet Goes West).