MORE than £1,240 profits were made by this year's Hatherleigh Carnival, held last month.

Despite less grant money being available for the event and fewer local floats, the collecting boxes were heavier.

Louise Bater of the carnival committee said: 'A heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave their time or loaned property to enable others to enter, stewards, torch and tar barrel makers, ticket and badge sellers, collectors, entrants, helpers, prize-givers throughout the year and those who came to watch and donated so generously.

'Without you there would be no carnival.'

The committee decided that £100 should be given to St John Ambulance, £50 to Dartmoor Rescue Group, £80 to West Devon Emergency Group, £50 to Rotary, £100 to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, £50 to arthritis charities, £20 for the Parish Pump, £150 to Hatherleigh Silver Band and £400 to Devon Air Ambulance.

A total of £846.20 was raised by walking collectors at the carnival. Ivor Pellow collected the most, followed by Dave Elson and Robbie Knight. Louise Bater collected most for the women, followed by Mary Farley and Kariss Entwistle.

Greenhills Newsagents did a draw and raised £44 — their millennium bear was won by Hannah Welby.

The annual meeting for the carnival committee is on March 21, 2001 at 8pm in the Old Schools.

New help is always very much welcomed.