THOUSANDS of revellers lined the town centre and seafront streets to enjoy Felixstowe’s colourful carnival parade.

The rain stayed away and the sun even came out for a while as the cavalcade, led on foot by mayor and mayoress Jon and Jan Garfield and featuring around 40 entries, including decorated floats and fancy dress characters, made its way to Langer Park, the focal point for the two days of family fun.

Trains, Planes and Automobiles was the theme and companies, volunteer groups, pubs, clubs, and organisations had all worked hard on their floats.

Trains were especially popular, with Thomas the Tank Engine, the Railway Children and a ghost train all featured, while Peewit Caravan Park had made a clever copy of Stephenson’s Rocket, dubbed the Peewit Rocket, with all the passengers in the two carriages dressed in Victorian costume.

Near the front of the parade was Carnival Queen Kayleigh Fielding, 18, and her two princesses, Victoria Colbourn and Emily Kay, both 12.

There was added glamour from the Mystic Belly Dancers and majorette troupes taking part included the Urban AllStars, Felixstowe Poloz, Diamond-Lites, Silver Blue Twirlers, Ipswich Silver Spinners and the Ice Illusions. Television news presenter Becky Jago, who officially opened the event, walked with the procession, chatting to people watching.

At Langer Park, revellers enjoyed a series of live bands, plus a variety of other entertainment, stalls and a funfair.

Carnival media spokesman Richard Lock said: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic weekend and we have to thank so many people for an amazing effort. The parade was double the length we have had for some years and it made us very proud to see how hard people had worked.”