ROYAL Wootton Bassett Carnival celebrities were selected from 32 keen young candidates, aged from pre-school to teenage, at a well-supported event hosted by the Angel Hotel on Saturday.

Carnival Queen 2016 is Katy Harris, 12, who attends Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and likes dancing. She told the audience that she loves the town's community spirit, especially in its carnival, Christmas lights and competitions.

Carnival Princess is Nesta Wade, aged nine, a pupil of St Bartholomew's Primary Academy. Her hobbies are ice skating and cooking. She said she would like to make ill people better and cheer up any who are sad.

Butterfly Princess Lorena Martin, aged four, a pupil at Little Foxes, confessed to liking chocolate and ice-cream.

Two new categories were introduced this year, for boys. Carnival Prince, Tom Dubarry, 10, of Longleaze School, likes piano, swimming, cycling and playing hockey for Royal Wootton Bassett. Pageboy Samuel Parkin, aged seven, also of Longleaze, likes reading, maths, Beavers, Lego, cycling and playing the tenor horn.

Every entrant was rewarded with warm applause and a commemorative certificate. The MC Barbara Sealey thanked all who made the event so successful, including the people who gave raffle prizes, and Cloth of Gold who helped prepare the royal regalia.

The judges were Mayor and Mayoress Ian and Judi Ferries, Mayor-Elect Mary Champion and Jade Dando, holder of the Miss Glamorous Wiltshire title.

The carnival parade will assemble in Marlowe Way by 3.15pm on Saturday, May 21, to move off at 4.30pm.