GLORIOUS summer sunshine accompanied a week of carnival fun in Tavistock, culminating in a colourful procession of floats, bands and marchers on Saturday evening.

This year's theme was the 'Best of British Comedy' — and those entering into the spirit of the carnival went to town with make up, costumes and considerable ingenuity.

From Tavistock Hockey Club's Bob Cowan, who managed to 'ministry of silly walk' his way around a good part of the town, to beefy rugby players squeezed into borrowed gowns, there was lots to laugh at for the hundreds who packed the carnival route.

Peter Harding, president of Tavistock Lions Club which organised the event, said the club was delighted with the success of the week.

Mr Harding said: 'Basically, we think it's probably been one of the most successful we've ever done, helped by the good weather.

'We're hopeful we can now get some renewed enthusiasm for it and get the procession back to what it used to be a few years ago, with masses of floats filling the route.'

Mr Harding said a lot of hard work had gone into this year's entries — and he singled out Uplands estate, which won the overall shield for best in procession, for particular praise.

'The judges were unanimous — they had made a fantastic effort, they obviously went to a lot of trouble,' he said, adding that the club hope next year, more communities like Uplands will enter a float.

Mr Harding was also pleased with the amount of people attending the events that made up carnival week.

'We try to make it so there are different things going on for everyone, so that everyone in the town can enjoy it — there were a lot of different faces at each different thing,' he said.

The collection made by Lions members on the procession route was up on last year by around £100, the total of £2,143 taking about three hours to count.

The estimated profit from this year's carnival week is around £5,000, which will be distributed to groups that participated in the procession plus other local charities.

The results were as follows:

Parish bowls competition

Winner: Buckland Monachorum; runner up, Bere Ferrers.

Pavement artists competition

Under five years: 1 Emily Friend; 2 Katy Ellicott; 3 Anya Loomes.

5-8 years: 1 Shannon Ashworth; 2 Nathan Turnock; 3 Alex Guy.

9 and over: 1 Eleanor Raw; 2 Jake Cobey; 3 Simon Coombes.

Baby show

Under 1 year: Leroy Archibald of Tavistock

Over 1 year: Rachael Ward of Princetown

Queen of queens competition — visiting carnival queens being judged off their floats.

Winner: Liskeard Lions carnival queen Claire Masers with attendants Briony Julian and Sophie Rogers.

Carnival procession

Best in procession: Uplands estate

Best in carnival theme: Gulworthy County Primary School.

Visiting carnival queen: Liskeard Lions carnival queen.

Humorous: 1 Abbey Surgery; 2 Tavistock Rugby Club; 3 Gulworthy County Primary School.

Artistic: 1 Uplands estate; 2 St Rumon's Infants School; 3 Milton Abbot School.

Walking: 1 Tavistock ACF; 2 Tavistock Hockey Club; 3 Sir Francis Drake.

Trade: 1 The Market Inn; 2 Specialist Vehicles; 3 The Original Pool Spa.

Mini soccer competition

Under 12s: 1 Tavistock Jets; 2 Tavistock Thistles.

Under 11s: 1 Horrabridge; 2 Tavistock Jets A.

Shop window competition: 1 Emma Stacey of Lamerton, who won a £25 voucher; 2 Sue May of Tavistock who won a £15 voucher; 3 Mark Webber of Tavistock who won a £10 voucher.