Two former Devizes carnival queens joined author Dave Buxton at a book signing at Devizes Books.

Mr Buxton has published his latest book, Devizes in Old Photographs, in time for Christmas and, as artistic director of the carnival, there are many pictures from carnivals of the past.

Several of them feature Ann Shaw, nee Rogers, who was queen in 1952, and Shirley Bush, nee Fruen, who held the position in 1956.

Mrs Bush, of Old Park, said: “It is a wonderful collection. It brings back a lot of memories.”

Mrs Shaw, from Wickfield, said that it was a shame that the carnival queen was not treated with the same enthusiasm that she was in her day.

She said: “The queen was a local celebrity and stores were falling over themselves to do things for us. I had a new dress from Slopers and someone did my hair for free.”

Mr Buxton’s book is on sale price £12.99.