COLOUR and spectacle made this year?s Okehampton Carnival a great success once again drawing hundreds of local residents out onto the street to savour that special atmosphere.

Although the number of floats was slightly down on previous years, their flamboyance and creativity made up for it, according to Mayor of Okehampton Christine Marsh who described the entries as ?brilliant.?

?It was a very lively carnival and it was lovely to see everyone out and about and having a good time,? she said. ?The atmosphere is quite unique.?

The sounds of the Devon Fire and Rescue Band filled Fore Street and there was a definite Fire Brigade theme as the Okehampton crew led the procession in their bright red machine.

Other music was provided by a Samba band, the Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band and the Bideford Pipe Band with Tavistock Majorettes adding to the entertainment.

Sixties sounds rang out with Okehampton College pupils getting in the swing for their ?Sensational 60s? float, the topical ?Austin Powers? by the Kings Arms went down a treat and the spectacular Santa?s Helper by the Friend and Kelly families was deemed overall winner.

The event raised in the region of £2,100.

AFTERNOON PARADE

All Day Collectors (Crepe Paper) ? 1, Spread the News ? Alan Horne, 2, Geisha Girls ? Ann Wills, Pauline Stevens, Rose Borgoyne and Miriam Penna, 3, Red, White and Blue ? Dave Elson; All Day Collectors ? 1, Holly and the Ivy ? Val Harvey, 2, Jester ? Graham Jones, 3, Tola the Hoob ? Neil Bisby; Girls 11-15 ?1, Genie ? Claire Mortimore; Boys 11-15 ? joint winners, The Parrot ? Dale Kiely and Boy Racer ? Wayne Stephenson; Girls 8-10 ? 1, Witch ? Michelle Lane, 2, Statue of Liberty ? Jasmine Vallance, 3, Queen of Hearts ? Kelly Stephenson; Boys 8-10 ? 1, Wacky Wizard ? Hayden Bond, 2, Aladdin ? James Ronan, 3, Punk Cool OK ? Scott Randle; Girls 5-7 ? 1, Beautiful Butterfly ? Kate Bolt, 2, Ghost of Okehampton ? Kimberley McDonald, 3, Bumble Bee ? Emily Collins; Boys 5-7 ? 1, Monster Inc ? Scott Bending, 2, King of Colour ? Sam Donaldson, 3, Darth Moor ? Tom Jevons.

Girls under Five ? 1, Madame Butterfly ? Madison McDonald, 2, Book Worm ? Alanna Skrzypczak, 3, Princess Leia; Boys under five ? 1, Pirate ? Ebby Vallance, 2, Captain Scarlett/Captain Blue ? Sam and Thomas Magowain, 3, Monster Incorp ? Thomas Eaves; Pairs (seven and under) ? 1, Twice as Dice ? Josie Pedrick and Deanna Cherry, 2, Jim Davison and John Virgo ? Sam Jollow and Cameron McKenzie, 3, Cinderella and Prince Charming ? Connie Bailey and Elliot Eaves; Pairs (8-10) ? 1, Dot to Dot ? Amy Reynolds and Annie McTravers, 2, Flower Power comes to Okehampton ? Joanne and Lucy Jevons; Pairs (11-15) ? 1, Compo and Norah Batty ? Kirsty Reynolds and Loretta Champion, 2, Baffy ? Rebecca and Isabelle Ewen; Groups up to five ? 1, Diddy Bugs ? Luke and Ellie Daniels, Molly Rickwood, 2, Three Amigos ? Declan and Kieran Coyle and Ryan Harnelli, 3, Cinders and Godmothers ? Briony and Tyler Smith and Jennifer Griggs; Groups over five ? 1, Cats ? Maddy and Hetty Valance, Eliza and Joe Crawford, Christie, Erin and Lily Ewen, Louisa and Charlotte Camies, Zoe Curtis and Georgie Aubin, 2, Knights ? Katrina and Bjorn Wesman, Brandon and Leon Horn, Theo and Amelia Barwood; Wheeled Vehicle ? 1, Antartica ? Ethan and Ashton Hoggins, 2, Music Box ? Sephona Ronan, 3, Peter Pan ? Burgoyne, Middleton, Baker and Dodd families.

CUP AWARDS

Best Pair or Group ? Diddy Bugs, Best Crepe Paper ? Wacky Wizard, Best Wheeled Vehicle and Best Over all ? Antartica.

ADULT CLASSES

Artistic Tableaux (50 per cent crepe paper ? 1, Santa?s Helpers ? Friend and Kelly families, 2, Buzzee Bees; Artistic Tableaux (open) ? 1, Austin Powers ? Kings Arms, South Zeal, 2, Wurzels ? Lewdown YFC; Original/Topical Tableaux ? 1, Chumleigh YFC, 2, Little Big Man?s Camp; Tradesman Tableaux ? 1, UK Independent ?Mr Hooper, Hatherleigh, 2, Bridestowe Garage; Costumed Collector (single) ? 1, Valentine ? Kate Swaine, 2, Ladybird , 3, Jester; Costumed Collectors (pairs) ? 1, What a Pair of Pussies ? Alison Hathaday, 2, Fully Booked; Costumed Collectors (Groups of three or more, non crepe paper) ? Adult Learning ? The Leaze; Costumed Collectors (Non-motorised vehicle) ? 1, Antartica ? Ethan and Ashton Hoggins, 2, Jungle Book; Costumed Collectors ? 1, Jubilee ? Dave Elson, 2, Geisha Girls, 3, Spread the News.

Under 16 Walking Guys (single or group) ? 1, Mother Nature ? Rachel Bolt, 2, Witches, 3, Rock Around the World; Visiting Carnival Queen (float) ? 1, Crediton, 2, Delabole, 3, Bude; Visiting Queen (decorated car) ? 1, Tavistock, 2, Hatherleigh (Queen), 3, Hatherleigh (Prince and Princess), Best Young Farmers - Chumleigh (Peter Pan); Best Visiting Tableaux ? Crediton; Best Local Tableaux and Best Overall ? Santa?s Helpers.

l Carnival pictures on pages 20, 37, 42 and 43.