A35 accident blamed for keeping some away from the big parade but organisers still pleased with turnout

A serious accident which caused traffic hold-ups on the A35, at Wilmington, was blamed for keeping numbers down at Axminster carnival on Saturday.

But organisers say the turnout for the illuminated procession was still good and the quality of entries amongst the highest in recent years.

Committee spokeswoman Liz Purvey said the accident meant some floats were delayed and some potential spectators, faced with lengthy diversions, probably decided to turn around and go home.

“But the crowds were still big, the weather was good and I think we took slightly more money than last year, although we are still counting it up,” she said.

She said they were particularly pleased with a healthy increase in the number of trade entries this year, flying the flag for local businesses.

The parade was headed by the AxeMen Motorcycles and included local firefighters, Axminster St John Ambulance, The Dorset Youth Marching Band, Axminster Peddlers, Karizma Majorettes, Axminster Mayor Andrew Moulding, in an open top Mini, and a tableau featuring former Axminster carnival queens.

There were also majorette troupes from Lyme Regis, Seaton, Honiton and Chard and the exciting sounds of the Blackdown Samba Band.

Sidvale Carnival Club strengthened its early grip on the East Devon Carnivals Cup with a second ‘best in procession’ award – following victory at Seaton - with its scary Bump in the Night tableau.

Other trophy winners were:

Best walking entry: Up, Up and Away (Cousins CC).

Best pub entry: Once Upon a Time (Poppe Inns CC).

Best music: Properrr Job (Nunsford Nutters).

Best costumes: The Lion King (Ipplepen CC).

Best drama entry: Anything Goes (Axminster Operatic Society).

Class winners:

Individual fancy dress: 1 Phantom en Violet (A Pearcy), 2 Fairy in a Box (F Rabjohn), 3 Toy Story Buzz Lightyear (Osma CC).

Adult fancy dress (individual): 1 Atlantic (Nigel Phillips, A and A CC), 2 Halo ‘N’ Horns (Lucy Thomas), 3 Guardian Angel (Osma CC).

Fancy dress (pairs): 1 Legends – Lord of Darkness (P Lugg), 2 Flower Fairies (Osma CC).

Decorated handcart: 1 Up, Up and Away (Cousins CC).

Decorated umbrella: 1 Willow Voysey ( E Voysey).

Walking group: 1 Alice (Zem CC), 2 Once Upon a Time (Poppe Inne CC), 3 Target Tagd Tae Kwan-Do (G Waugh), 4 Anything Goes (Axminster Operatic Society).

Trade: 1 M P Hoare Agricultural, 2 Country Motors, 3 Axminster Carpets.

Mini floats: 1 Rainbow Pirates (Rainbow Playgroup), 2 On That Farm (Generations CC), 3 The Wizard of Oz (Chloes CC).

Visiting carnival queens (East Devon circuit): 1 Year of the Dragon (Seaton), 2 Crowning Glory (Colyton), 3 Bollywood Dreams (Ottery St Mary).

Visiting carnival queens (open): 1 The Dove Ball (South Brent CC), 2 Ocean Queen (Bovey Tracey).

Open tableaux (30ft and under): 1 The Lion King (Ipplepen CC), 2 Cold Chills (Budleigh Salterton CC), 3 Grease (OSM VSU CC).

Youth tableaux: 1 ‘R’ (K9 CC and Honiton Scouts), 2 Ugly Bugs Ball (Colyton Caterpillars).

Local tableaux: 1 The Jolly Roger (Axminster YFC), 2 Bad to the Bone (Daryl ‘N’ Dave’s CC), 3 Tourist Information (S Morgan).

Open tableaux: 1 Bump in the Night (Sidvale CC), 2 Rose and the Chocolate Factory (Groves Nursery CC).

Humorous tableaux: 1 Properrr Job (Nunsford Nutters CC).