A CAVALCADE of colourful floats, crazy costumes and brilliant evening sunshine attracted thousands into Tavistock last Saturday, as the Lions Club Carnival 2000 came to a climax.

With the theme of Summer Holiday, entrants let their imaginations run riot in the competition to win best entry in the parade.

Coins poured into dozens of collectors' buckets, to be distributed among the charity groups, clubs and schools who participated in the procession.

The collection made £2,495 — ten percent up on last year and the highest for nine years.

It took volunteers four hours to count almost 80,000 coins!

Lions spokesman Steve Grummitt said: 'We were delighted, it all went extremely well and we were lucky with the weather on Saturday.

'We didn't have any hiccups — it was a really good week.'

He said it was nice to see new faces entering the carnival this year, the biggest parade for the last four or five years.

A selection of community projects in the area will also benefit from the carnival profits, estimated at around £5,500.

Money will be given to Peter Tavy toward the restoration of the village cross, to Brentor for a fence outside the village hall, and to Princetown as a contribution to the village fund.

Walkhampton will receive a donation towards playschool equipment and Gulworthy will be given a share in the profits towards granite entrance pillars for the new cemetery.

A variety of events and competitions were organised throughout carnival week.

Winner of the parish bowls competition was Buckland Monachorum for the fourth year running, with Tavistock as the runner-up.

In the pavement artists competition, Jasmine Simmons won the under-5s' section, Nicolas Lucas won the 5 to 8 age group and the 9 to 11-year competition was won by Felicity Browner, with a special prize for Natalie Tugwell.

Rebecca Woolcock, of Tavistock, won the baby show in the under one year section — Owen Tugwell won the over one age group.

Top prize in the queen of queens competition went to Stephanie Portlock, carnival queen of Bere Alston, who was escorted by Charlotte Newport, Stacey Brooks and Sam Jolly.

Best in carnival procession was won by Tavistock and District Outdoor Forum — best in theme was St Peter's Junior School.

Liskeard carnival queen came first in the visiting royalty section, second was Princetown carnival princess and third was Bere Alston's carnival queen.

Tavistock and District Outdoor Forum won the humorous section, second were St Rumon's Infants School and third Dartfordleigh Residential Home.

The walking section was won by Tavistock Muscular Dystrophy Group, Tavistock Primary School was second and the Red Cross third.

In the schools entries, St Peter's Junior School came first, Milton Abbot second and Gulworthy Primary third.

The trade section was won by Chammings, with Bill the Baker in second and Tavistock NFU third.

Tavistock Jets swept the board in the mini soccer competition, taking the under nine and under ten competition — Tamar Valley Thistles were runners up in both sections.

The Lions are now planning 2001's event — the theme — Out of This World.