THE biggest crowds in several years turned out to see Camelford Carnival on Saturday, and the procession was blessed with dry weather.

Entries were up on last year and carnival secretary Marney Baker expressed her thanks to everybody involved for their hard work and effort.

She said: “A lot of people came to see it — the biggest crowd for several years. It was beautiful weather.

“We were up on last year with the entries so we were really pleased with that. The standard of the floats was just excellent, people put a lot of work in.”

This year’s chosen charities for the carnival are Camelford First Responders and the Friends of Lanteglos Church.

Marney, who is in her 18th year as carnival secretary, said there will be a de-brief meeting in the next couple of weeks, and then the committee of nine will start organising for next year.

She added: “It’s not just a two-minute job.” This year there was the added challenge for the committee of getting the A39 re-opened as quickly as possible after the carnival for A30 traffic, as the A30 was subject to an overnight closure.

Marney said: “I had strict instruction from Kier to phone them as soon as the road was able to be opened. There is a lot of work behind the scenes that perhaps people don’t realise.”

Carnival results: Under 16 floats — 1, Little Acorns Nursery — Aliens have Underpants. Over 16 clubs/organisations — 1, Launceston Steam Rally 2017; 2, Souls Harbour — The Incredibles; 3, Camelford YFC. Comic — 1, Ian Mills — Exmoor Ghosts. Trade — 1, Flowers from Bruallen; 2, Christine Sillifant — Micro 2 stock car; 3, RTC Plant — Peter Pan and never Cornwall. Misc — 1, Scott Reynolds — Super Dexta; 2, Busy Bees; 3, Mr Prout 1959 Massey Ferguson 35. Walkers large group — 1, Chinese Dragons — Camelford Scouts; 2, Day of the Dead — Kerrie and Gang; 3, Jam and Jerusalem — Camelford WI. Cycle/mail cart — 1, Pepper Pig — Ally and Tru Stevenson. Walkers small group — 1, Camelford Aeronautic Space Administration — Alfie and Millie; 2, The Red Arrows- Camelford Brownies; 3, Hero’s from Across the rainbow — Camelford Rainbows. Lady/gent walker — 1, Gardner’s World with Monty Don — Mr Davidson. Walker under 14 — 1, 50’s Rock Chick — Jenna Pooley.

Cups: Emma Hunter Cup — Little Acorns Nursery; North Cornwall Transport —Launceston Steam Rally 2017; Camelford Chamber of Commerce — Flowers from Bruallen; Best Overall Local Sleep Cup — Flowers from Bruallen; Gerald Duke Best walker — Jenna Pooley; Stacey Family Cup Group walkers — Camelford Scouts.

Queen — 1, Brea; 2, Bude; 3, Bridgerule. Group — 1, Bridgerule; 2, Bude; 3, Delabole. Attendants — 1, Bridgerule; 2, Delabole; 3, Bude.

Best Float — Hunt Family Cup — Delabole.

Best Car — Phillips Family Cup — Bude.