PLANS have been unveiled for this year’s Dorchester Carnival.

Organisers say a Carnival King will take centre stage alongside the Carnival Queen at the 2012 event.

The annual county town celebration will take place on Saturday, June 16 and in a change to previous years the 2012 procession will have no theme, giving people complete freedom of choice to dress up and decorate their floats.

The carnival has been run by Dorchester Round Table for the past 40 years and the group is hoping that this year will be better than ever.

A Round Table spokesman said: “This year is one which will see fun and festivities up and down the country, in Dorset in particular. “That is why we are determined to make this year’s Dorchester Carnival the best it has ever been. “We want everyone to have a cracking good day filled with entertainment and fun for all the family.”

The highlight of carnival day will again be the procession with a first prize of £300 for the best float in each of the four categories.

The second, third and fourth placed floats will also win £200, £100 and £50 respectively and the overall winner will get an extra £200.

Organisers are hoping to see a rush of entries bidding to win the prize money to make it a bumper year for local charities.

The Round Table’s spokesman added: “We are aiming to get a massive number of floats involved in this year’s procession, over 60.

“As usual the main focus of carnival day will be the procession to raise money for charity, but Dorchester Round Table has been in touch with local bands and theatre groups to ensure the entertainment and party atmosphere goes on all day and into the night.”

The traditional Carnival Queen competition is back this year and the winner will be joined by a new addition, a Carnival King.

The carnival festivities will actually start on Thursday, June 14, with the ever popular annual charity pub race followed by family entertainment on the Friday evening and the street fair on the Saturday.

The procession will set off from the market at 6pm, resulting in road closures in the town centre until 7.30pm.

Bands will then be playing at the Borough Gardens into the evening.

Dorchester Round Table is looking for volunteers to help marshal the event. Anyone interested in helping or in entering a float is asked to contact Ellis Ford at Dorchesterroundtable@hotmail.co.uk or call 07809 5332521.