Thousands of people took to the streets of Wem to take part in the town’s colourful carnival which was celebrating its 100th anniversary.

There were two parades as part of the celebrations on Saturday. Two processions of floats left Pyms Road at 1.30pm and 7.45pm before snaking their way around the town to Bowen’s Field car park. There was an aerobatics display from RAF?Shawbury and a visit from a helicopter on carnival field, where a host of activities took place.

Live music was provided by bands, including the Wem Jubilee Band and the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band.

There was also a wealth of food, trade, craft and charity stalls, children’s rides and a funfair, exotic animals, and dance troupe competition. Local businesses also got into the spirit of the day by decorating their shop windows.

Rosie Chandler was crowned carnival queen, Colby Wilkie and India Griffiths were the princesses and the attendants were Gabrielle Williams-Holmes and Bronwyn Poole.

Louise Green, vice-chairwoman of the organising committee, said she hoped the event would have attracted about 5,000 people. She said photographs from the day will appear on the website http://www.wemcar nival.com/

The 1911 carnival was partly organised to commemorate the coronation of King George V.

The procession consisted of the members of Wem TT Band, the local Scouts troop, masters and pupils of the nearby grammar school, and local people in fancy dress.

This was followed by sports events and a dance on the castle field and entertainment at the cricket pavilion.

In the evening there was a torchlight procession and a cycle carnival.

Clive Shingler, chairman of the organising committee this year, said the carnival’s long history was something to be proud of and hoped it would continue for another 100 years.

By James Pugh