ONE of Suffolk’s best-loved villages took a step back in time yesterday as the wartime period was brought back to life.

The theme of the Lavenham Carnival, which passed down the High Street towards the recreation ground, was the 1940s.

Crowds lined the route as the procession, led by the Bury St Edmunds-based Glenmoriston Pipe and Drum Band, departed from Market Square.

Young and old donned costumes from the wartime period and they were joined by a number of vehicles from the era, including a 1940s Jeep.

Community leaders in the village last night hailed the event a success.

Philip Gibson, who represents Lavenham on Babergh District Council, said: “It went superbly well.

“There was a 1940s theme so people wore wartime costumes and there was a tremendous number of old cars.”

As well as the carnival, the recreation ground played host to the village’s rare breed and motor show.

It included a tractor display team, falconry, a farmers’ market and other stalls.

Each year, organisers of the carnival base the event around a theme. Last year’s carnival boasted a medieval theme.

During the medieval period, Lavenham was ranked among the 20 wealthiest settlements in England on the back of its wool trade during the 15th and 16th Centuries.

Yesterday’s carnival marked the end of a weekend of activities in the village.

On Friday, the 1940s film The History of Mr Polly was screened, followed by, on Saturday, a children’s morning at the Recreation Ground and The Magician’s Box by the Mad Dogs and the Englishmen Theatre Company during the evening.

On Sunday, the village enjoyed a Songs of Praise event at the Recreation Ground with the Salvation Army band.