BOATS, floats and stilt walkers helped transform Stourport when the popular annual festival took place.

Residents and visitors to the town lined the streets to enjoy all the fun as well as help raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

This year’s royal consort was led by Carnival Queen Antonia Alberone-Chamberlain, Princess Emily Edwards and Rosebud Roxie Jordan.

The day started with a procession from Redstone Caravan Park that saw 16 groups enter floats and vehicles, as well as walkers, for the parade. River parades also took place during the day and the evening featuring a total of 32 boats.

It was an extra special day for town firefighter John Gittins and wife Serena – both Stourport Yacht Club members – who re-enacted their wedding from the week before on their boat ‘Moonshine’.

A host of awards for various categories were handed out to boats including Sheer Water, Pegasus, Miandra, Almach, Bramble, Kingfisher, Lady Leisure on her Adventure, Kindred Spirit, Sea Otter, Goosander and Moonshine.

Awards for floats went to Little Red Riding Hood walkers group, Disney Friends, Air Motion Dance and Delboy and Rodney.

The Caravan Cup was jointly awarded to Redstone and Four Acres Caravan Parks, who will share the trophy for six months each. They were also named as overall winners.

And the best dressed shop window competition – sponsored by Stourport Town Council – went to Mooch in the High Street, with second place going to La Baguette in Lombard Street and third place going to Raven in Bridge Street.

Pete Roberts, from Stourport Carnival Committee, said: “It was a fantastic event, the weather was great and everyone had a fantastic time. The town was heaving.

“I would urge everyone to please come out and support the carnival and parade next year. People can enter trollies, cars or join as walkers.”

He added the next big event for the royal consort will be the annual Three Kings’ Parade on November 24.