WARMINSTER Carnival welcomed one of its biggest crowds in years as over 60 illuminated floats, dancers and performers entertained thousands of roadside revellers in a typically vibrant procession.

The carnival, which is the last on the Wessex Circuit, took the traditional route from the corner of Prestbury Drive and Boreham Road, along East Street, through Market Place and up to The Obelisk.

Chairman of the Wessex Carnival circuit, Kevin Knapp, who was performing with his daughter as Knights on Tour, said: “Each town on the circuit is unique and each town brings its own version of a carnival.

​"Although you might see the majority of the same entries there will be a wide variety of other performers at each one and a different atmosphere.

“Warminster Carnival is always very well supported and as it’s the last one on the circuit, and the best in many people’s eyes, it always draws a good crowd of excited spectators."

Carnival royalty trio Leo Slatford, of St. John’s School, Aimee Hird, also of St. John's, and seven-year old Scarlet Shepherd of Minster School, who were all selected at a carnival fun day in September, gave royal waves to the crowds from a vehicle which resembled the popemobile.

And for some performers, their journey to playing a part in the carnival is quite remarkable.

Mike Daniels from Wells started using a mobility scooter after suffering a series of strokes in 2011, but that didn’t stop him from being a carnival performer.

The 44-year-old lost use of his right leg after the strokes but instead of giving up, he decided to turn his mobility scooter into a piano on wheels, which he uses to drive to various spectators on the pavement and serenade them as Sister Michael.

He clearly impressed the judges with his musical act as he was named the best performer in the Disabled category.

Elsewhere, former Warminster mayor Andrew Davis celebrated the 35th anniversary of his carpet shop, Andrew Davis Carpets, by rolling out a red carpet from the back of a van while town criers from towns across Wiltshire teamed up to clatter their bells in unison.

In the Open Feature category, carnival judges voted the Shout float, run by Shaftesbury based Kipling Carnival Club, as the most impressive with Stobor, run by Hot Rock CC, in second place and Revellers CC’s Uptown float in third.

In the Open Tableau category, A Passage Through Time, run by Magnum CC, scooped first prize while Just George’s CC’s Diddly Dee won in the Comic Feature category.

Lily Rose, eight, from The Avenue Primary School, said: “I really liked the Shout float because the music was really good, I think they saved the best for last. I also liked the Male Majorettes.”

“My friend was dancing on one of the floats and she did really well. I’d like to do that one day.”