Ref. 27184-21THOUSANDS of people lined the streets of Melksham as the 2003 carnival procession weaved through town.

Floats ranging from the Melksham skate park campaign to majorette troupes and the Wiltshire Times vintage bus made up part of the annual procession on Saturday.

The procession was the catalyst for a day of family fun, which included a dog show, fireworks and live music on King George V playing field.

With an all-day craft fair in the assembly hall and a funfair, Melksham residents were given an event to be proud of.

On the playing field there was something for everyone, from beer tents and burger vans to bouncy castles. Such was the event's popularity that two rival ice cream vans could trade within yards of each other.

Carnival chairman and Melksham mayor Terri Welch said: "We were very pleased, it went very well.

"The weather was just about perfect. The beer ran out at precisely 9.30pm when the fireworks started, it was perfect timing."

The carnival procession began at 6pm with butterfly queen Mary Barnes and her two princesses, Jodie Sprules and Kelsey Stuart, leading the way. By the time floats had returned to the start-finish point at Cooper-Avon car park festivities were well underway. With the ideal weather and bumper crowds organisers hailed the carnival as one of the best yet.

Mrs Welch said: "We had more majorettes, but we didn't have as many trade floats.

"But when I spoke to people the next day they seemed to have enjoyed it. They could hear the fireworks from all over Melksham."

The carnival, which has been running for over 50 years, is designed to raise vital funds for good causes.

Mrs Welch said: "We raise money for groups within the Melksham area which write to the carnival committee asking for help.

"We won't know the amount of money raised yet, it has to go to Securicor in Bristol to be counted."

The mayor said Melksham carnival has an edge over its west Wiltshire rivals.

Mrs Welch said: "People go to other carnivals but just watch the procession. For the past three years we've had a party in the park as an added attraction."