After an absence of two years, the baby show is returning to the Devizes Carnival programme in memory of former organiser Myra (Midge) Webster, 62, who died of cancer this year.

The popular show has not been part of the carnival for the past two years because no one volunteered to run it but now friends of Mrs Webster, Jeanette Von Berg and Clair Cross, have come forward.

Miss Von Berg, a former chairman of Devizes Carnival, said: “Midge ran the baby show for years.

“She was hoping if she got into remission that she would be well enough to organise it but that didn’t happen and I promised her before she died that we would get involved in the baby show and that put a smile on her face.

“Midge had four children of her own and 16 grandchildren and she just loved babies. It was a very popular event and I hope people will support it.”

The baby show starts at 10.30am on August 31 at the Corn Exchange. Entry forms are available from Rowlands pharmacy in Little Brittox but you can enter on the day.

There are three categories; 0-six months, six-12 months and 12-18 months. Devizes Mayor Pete Smith will pick the overall winner.

Carnival fortnight begins with the free Picnic in the Park at Hillworth Park on Sunday August 22 where there will be children’s entertainment and live bands.

A new event is a movie project by the Tate Gallery in collaboration with the film company behind Wallace and Gromit.

A mobile animation studio will be in the Market Place on August 23 for children to contribute to the making of the film.

A variety show in the Corn Exchange returns for a second successive year on August 29 by the same company that presented it last year, Slightly Fat Features, and which sold out.

The free International Street Festival on Bank Holiday Monday August 30 features top performers from all over the world including The Destroyers, a 15 piece band, the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, a show called Little Box of Horrors and slapstick acrobatics from Tumblecircus.

The traditional confetti battle takes place on the evening of September 1.

The popular costume making workshops are being held in the run up to the carnival procession on September 4.

Dave Buxton, artistic director of the carnival and international street festival, said that, despite the recession, the committee had delivered an outstanding programme.

He said: “Fundraising has been very hard but we have raised almost as much money as last year. We have had to find new sponsors. There is a lot of good support locally.”

Programmes are available from local shops, price £2.