HATHERLEIGH Carnival Committee's late plea for a queen has been heard and subsequently two candidates came forward for the role at Friday night's Royalty Evening in the town hall.

It was an extremely close vote — Jane Wonnacott received 60 votes and Kay Stevens pipped her with 61 votes.

Fourteen-year-old Kay will lead the procession this year, having taken part in the carnival since she was a baby, following in the footsteps of her mum, auntie and grandmother.

The carnival committee have expressed sincere thanks to original queen Charlene Taylor and her family who worked so hard and sold over £500 of carnival queen draw tickets. Due to personal reasons Charlene felt she could no longer be this year's queen.

Prince and Princess of Hatherleigh Carnival will be nine-year-old Abe Gladstone and Ruby-May Greenhill, eight, who will be riding on a float for the first time, assisted by their siblings as attendants.