Thirty former carnival queens will join this year’s proud title holder as a Suffolk resort celebrates with its 75th carnival.

Aldeburgh Carnival Queen Shannon Strowger, 21, will have carnival queens from as far back as the 1950s taking part with her in the big parade.

Hairdresser Shannon comes from a family with a unique carnival pedigree – her mother Beverly was Carnival Queen in 1981 and her father Vernon was Mr Neptune in 2007, a rare occasion when a Carnival King presided.

She will be accompanied by her princesses Eve Atkins, aged 11, Jessica Waters, 10, and Evie Brinded, nine.

Preparations are in full swing for the event with one of the highlights set to be a free-fall parachute drop by the famous Royal Air Force Falcons Parachute Display Team.

The carnival will run throughout the weekend on August 19-20 with the parade taking place on Monday, August 21 at 3.15pm.

This year’s theme of “Amazing Aldeburgh” provides a wide canvas for costumes and tableaux.

Many of the event’s traditional favourites will be included again, including the lantern procession, donkey rides and spectacular fireworks.

There will also be a 10k run, military band and samba band performances, Punch and Judy, swimming races, lollipop hunt, children’s races, stalls, rides, air-sea rescue demonstration if the weather permits, and a United Songs of Praise.

There have been several carnival activities already and the annual poster competition prize giving has been held.

Pupils of Aldeburgh Primary took full advantage of the theme for their entries and produced some imaginative posters. Presenting prizes to the winners in each of the four age groups, John Digby, deputy mayor, congratulated the young artists who captured in very personal ways the spirit of both the town and the carnival over the years.

Results

Fourth Year Class: 1. Max Fleming, 10; 2 Rosie Ruth, 11; 3 Matthew Cater, 11. Third Year Class: 1 Daniel Owen, nine; 2 Max Blowers, nine; 3 Isobel Moy, nine. Second Year Class: 1 Harley Hambling, eight; 2 Evie Noxon, seven; 3 Tyler Hambling, eight. First Year Class: 1 Bluebell Gallant, six; 2 Agatha Battle, five; 3 Samanta Dubinskaite, four.