This year's revamped Dorchester Carnival is less than two weeks away and organisers are promising a day of complete madness (and fun of course!)

Reborn as Midsummer Madness, this year will see a celebration with a difference as the town comes alive with colour, craziness, music and laughter.

A main alteration to this year's carnival is that there will be walking procession only. No vehicles will be allowed, but bicycles and mobility scooters and the alike will be.

The procession will leave the Borough Gardens at 4.30pm, through to the marketplace and across to Brewery Square and South Street.

Usually the procession marks the end of the day - but not this year. Midsummer Madness will continue until 10pm in the Borough Gardens where the headline act will be the Unravelling Wilburys.

Town crier, Alistair Chisholm, who has had a major involvement in the organisation of Midsummer Madness, said: "We have all been working so hard and everything is finally coming together.

"This is a community event at its best and I don't see any reason why anyone wouldn't want to come down.

"We always felt that as the procession went through the town the event began to dwindle and then everyone would disperse and go home. But we won't let that happen this year. The party - and the madness - will continue our beautiful Borough Gardens, and we have some fantastic performers lined up.

"A big focus has been making sure there is something for everyone.

"Members of the community have been very busy making bunting for us, which we will be hanging up down the whole of South Street - I think it's going to take us a little while to hang it, but it will look amazing.

"We are hoping to be able to donate money to good causes in the area - depending on how much we raise. And maybe even have some left over for next year's pot.

"We just hope the town - and the sun - come out for the event and join in the madness."

A workshop was recently held at the Corn Exchange for families to come along and create costumes for the day.

Other bands performing on the day include Elijah Woolf, The Leggomen, Nina Garcia, the HMS Heron Band, the Casterbridge Male Voice Choir, the Durnovaria Silver Band and the Dorchester Pop Club band.

Organisers are also looking for 25 volunteer marshals who will briefed in the Borough Gardens at 3pm and issued with hi-vis tabards and radios.

There is also still plenty of time to join in the procession.

Alistair added: "Let’s just let our hair down, go somewhat crazy and have a rollicking day of variety and fun for the whole of our community from the youngest to the oldest."