FANCY dress, brass bands, a colourful procession and sunshine attracted hundreds of revellers to the annual Puddletown Carnival.

A majorette display, raffles, stalls, bouncy castle, fun fair and live music were just some of the highlights that organisers hoped would raise £10,000 for local causes.

Chairman of Puddletown Carnival committee Juliet Hussey said: "Last year we gave away just over £7,000 and this year we're aiming for £10,000 - I don't know if we'll make it but that's what we're aiming for.

"I think we've probably got more people here than last year.

"We've been worried about the weather obviously all week and then ended up with a glorious day and people have turned out in droves, so it's brilliant.

"All the Puddletown organisations, the Brownies, mini-football and the school always get involved and then some daring individuals who come in, we've got Batman and Robin in their cars, I've noticed."

She added: "I think we're all really proud of the fact that Puddletown which is a tiny little village can put on something like this and raise so much money to give away.

"Each year we wonder whether it will work because it's getting more difficult to do these things and each year we get a turnout like this - lots of local people helping us, lots of local people supporting us, so it's going from strength to strength at the moment."

Despite organisers saying there were less floats in this year's procession because people were concerned about insurance, the parade was a colourful, musical extravaganza with Brownies dressed as Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts, the mini football club as Pirates of the Caribbean and Young Farmers on their tractors among many others.

This year's Dorchester Carnival Queen Emmaly Ring also took part as one of the judges for the fancy dress and said the carnival was worth a visit and she would definitely go next year.

Puddletown Parish Council member Chris Leonard said: "The best thing definitely is that it brings everyone together and it creates a lovely feeling of community sprit.

"It's a friendly atmosphere and I think it lasts the village the whole year round really."