LOCAL charities and organisations are set to be boosted by donations totalling £1,118 following another successful South Petherton Carnival on Saturday.

The day started with the traditional Mile of Coins which raised a staggering £177.13. The coins started from H. R. Hodge and Sons in St James' Street and stretched the furthest distance on record to Barons the Estate Agents. A street collection was also held during the day and raised £941.45.

Fortunately the bad weather lifted before the start of the Carnival procession and it was the Brimsgrove Carnival Club who took the overall winners' prize.

A Carnival spokesman said: "We are pleased to report that the procession had for the third year in succession increased in size.

"Although due to unfortunate circumstances this year two of the regular floats were unable to attend, there were more walking and walking-wheeled entries.

"This is a very encouraging sign for a country village who normally find that their entries start to dwindle as regulations become increasingly hard to fulfil. So the future prospect for next year's Carnival, due to be held on September 13, is looking good.

"We raised an overall total of £1,118.58 and as we are a non-profit making organisation all of this shall be put towards the final amount that is donated to local charities and organisations."

SOUTH PETHERTON CARNIVAL RESULTS:

FLOATS: Features - Young Warriors, Brimsgrove Carnival Club; Land of Make Believe, The Brewers Arms. Comic - Because We Can Can Can, The Wheatsheaf Inn; Life's A Beach, The Sheafwheat Carnival Club. Costume - Young Warriors, Brimsgrove Carnival Club. Music - Land of Make Believe, The Brewers Arms. Best Public House - Land of Make Believe, The Brewers Arms. Best Float in Parish - Land of Make Believe, The Brewers Arms.

WALKERS: Single - Sugar and Spice, Catherine Male; Witch, Laura Bennet. Pairs - Africa Row, Ruth Johnson and Co; Rio Birds of Paradise, R. L. C. Carnival Club; Snakes and Ladders, Little and Large Club. Groups - Sea Creatures, South Petherton Junior School; The Beano Bunch, The Stroud Family. Walking Wheeled - Dolly Dot.Com, Patricia Male; Noddy Comes to Town, Matthew Parker; Fantasy Butterflies, Carla's Crew. Children - Strawberry Fair, Hannah Elswood; Dolly Dot.Com, Patricia Male; Dragon and Damsels in Distress, South Petherton Infants School. Best Dragon - Dragon and Damsels in Distress, South Petherton Infants School. Best Walking Group in Parish - Dragon and Damsels in Distress, South Petherton Infants School.

VEHICLES: Trade - Carrs of Yeovil; Vintage - H. R. Hodge and Sons.

OVERALL WINNER: Young Warriors, Brimsgrove Carnival Club.