Newport Carnival crowds bask in glorious sunshine

High Street was packed as 30 floats paraded through the town centre at noon.

The crowds then swarmed to Shuker Field where there was colourful entertainment, games and stalls throughout the afternoon.

Saturday's carnival was free for a second year so organisers do not have a record of exactly how many people enjoyed the annual event.

But committee co-chair Irene Whittington estimated that it was a record-breaker.

"We certainly think it was the best carnival ever," she said. "It's very hard to quantify how many people were there without selling tickets, but it's more than we've ever seen. Probably around 6,000.

"I have never seen the High Street so busy. It was absolutely packed."

This year's carnival cost about £11,000 to put on with organisers relying on bucket collections, advertising and grants.

A late plea for volunteers to help on the day resulted in dozens of people coming forward.

Mrs Whittington added: "The people of Newport really rallied around. People were helping from 8am until into the evening.

"The Air Cadets and the Army Cadets did a tremendous job too. The support was fantastic."

Entertainment at Shuker Field included fire performers, dancers and steel and brass bands.

Providing plenty of laughs was Meirion Owen's Quack Pack, a hilarious show of border collies herding Indian Runner ducks around an assault course.

People were reluctant to leave the field, with many sitting and socialising until past 5pm.

Mrs Whittington said: "People really enjoyed the entertainment, I think we had the right mix.

"The music zone and the family area were very popular and the food stalls were saying they found it hard to cope with the number of people queuing.

"The circus workshop was really popular and the Quack Pack was very, very funny.

"People hung around at Shuker Field much longer than they do normally. Lost the Plot played right until the end. The tremendous weather obviously helped a great deal. Newport loves its carnival."

Newport mayor Councillor Tony Forrester praised the carnival's small organising committee.

"The weather was fantastic and I think everyone had a super time," he said.

"It's important for Newport because it's one of the biggest events of the year."

Carnival co-chairs Mrs Whittington and Graham Lee are now expected to step aside after three years in the hot seat.

Mrs Whittington said: "We will probably stay quite close to the carnival and be committee members, but the role of chair does need to be passed on, or things tend to get a little stale."

Roy Scammell, Telford & Wrekin councillor for Newport North, said the visitors that the carnival attracts are a welcome boost for town centre traders.

He said: "I'd like to congratulate the carnival committee on what was a fantastic event. It was one of the best carnivals that we've had in Newport for years.

"Thank you to everyone who supported the event, including everyone who helped the committee and who took part in the parade.

"Newport needs events like this because they bring visitors in from out of town and they get a chance to see what a variety of independent traders we have.

"They are likely to come back time and time again. It helps to keep the town vibrant."