A SPECTACULAR carnival day brought crowds of visitors 20 deep on to the streets of Sturminster Newton on Saturday (August 20) as a host of events marked the end of a week's festivities.

Kicking off with an early-morning market and craft fair, along with a novelty dog show, the day officially began with the carnival queen, Teela Taylor, 18, from Hinton St Mary, performing the opening ceremony.

A grand parade of dozens of local youngsters in colourful fancy dress featured everything from pirates and supermen to a box full of live toys.

Young competition winner Carina Haines scooped the top prize for her "Jigplosion" costume, a dress covered in scores of "exploding" jigsaw pieces.

Dorset youth band The Quarterjacks picked up the trophy for the best marching band taking part in the carnival procession, while children from the local primary school also took the top spot for their circus-themed float "Sturcus".

An evening parade through the streets was followed by a display in the Square by the ever-popular Bournemouth Carnival Band, famed for their Spiderman outfits.

Carnival day secretary Frances Rose said: "It was a brilliant day and we were very lucky with the weather. We had a lot of entries and some great costumes.

"The numbers of spectators seemed to be up on last year and in some areas people were standing 20 deep in the town."

Volunteers were out in force to collect cash from the watching crowds and proceeds from the carnival events will go towards local charities in the town.

First published: August 22