WOOTTON Bassett Carnival procession delighted crowds who turned out on a mild, sunny Saturday evening to enjoy the colourful cavalcade.

They dug deep into their pockets to contribute a grand total of £2,322.73 £50 more than last year for local charitable causes.

The delayed arrival of special guests Dorchester Carnival Band put proceedings slightly behind schedule, but they were well worth the wait, as they clowned their way around town.

Chippenham Majorettes, in smart blue and white uniforms, were a welcome addition to the parade.

Vintage cars transported carnival queen Sophie Carroll, carnival princess Ffion Thomas Price and attendants Holly Creighton and Chloe Hack.

Mayor and Mayoress Percy and Sally Miles travelled aboard the champion float, with the Bathing Belles of The Five Bells pub. "They made us very welcome," said the mayor.

Cricklade Band played as they marched while Wootton Bassett Brass enjoyed a less strenuous circuit, on a float as the Bondi Beach Christmas Party.

Dancers jived ahead of the Rugby Club's Rock'n'Roll float, which featured live music. The Conservatives' float had an old pop theme, with ex-stars of the charts depicted in an amusing play on words, as The Pop Idles.

Wootton Bassett's answer to Blackpool Tower ballroom was provided by The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes from Tavern Lodge, with Ever ready steady Eddie entertaining on the Wurlitzer.

The Arthritis Research Campaign Shield for Children's Effort was awarded to the 1st Wootton Bassett Heron Beaver Colony for Royal Flush. The boys had made their own sandwich-board playing cards.

Beaver Regan Kaye, who broke both legs in an accident a month ago, deserved full marks for perseverance.

As the King of Hearts, he rode around the route in a wheelchair decorated as a castle.

Carnival organiser Mary Harrison was delighted with the parade's success.

"It's great to see so many of the town's organisations turn out for the procession, and the weather stayed good," she said.

"I'm extremely pleased with the whole event and the amount raised was fantastic, I certainly didn't expect that amount."

Mayor Miles added his praises. "It has been a truly excellent week and the parade was the pinnacle of the carnival," he said.

"The weather has been great considering it's usually wet and overcast and the event was well supported, as ever."

The curtain fell on the ten-day carnival on Sunday, with a picnic in the park at Old Court.

It featured musical entertainment and the grand draw, where the first prize of £100 was won by Carol Price, the mother of the carnival princess.

Performers included Wootton Bassett Light Operatic Society, St Bartholomew's School choir, and Wootton Bassett Brass.

The event set the seal on a memorable carnival, which featured an arts, crafts and hobbies exhibition organised by the Arthritis Research Campaign. There was also a quiz at the Memorial Hall on Friday and a carnival crafts and pavement art workshop at the Civic Centre on Thursday. Carnival president Mary Harrison said: "I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone especially those who made the carnival procession such a tremendous success."