MORE than 5,000 people crammed into the centre of Milford-on-Sea as locals rubbed shoulders with holidaymakers for yet another rip-roaring village carnival.

In fact, visitors have become so keen on the carnival that one group - from the Carrington Lane holiday park - even dressed up as a wild west walking group and won third prize.

But the tremendous support the event receives from the seaside village's residents, clubs and traders was again very much in evidence.

"We've had a brilliant response from all the local traders with lots of prizes for the tombola and raffles and the people of the village have rallied round too," said village community committee chairman Sharon Parr.

The organisers were also delighted with the standard of the floats, which ranged from the Mos & Co State Circus to the Frog Song, from the Wild West to Woodland Friends and from the Rocky Horror Show to the Red Marrows, who had a sneaking likeness to Red Arrows.

But the fun didn't start or end with the big parade. A fete ran throughout the day on the village green and went on late into the evening, with the Norman Emberson Jazz Band followed by Dog Ruff.

Keeping the musical tempo up in the procession were the Ringwood Pipers and a mobile carnival band from Luton, with help from the Meridian and Twelve Stars majorette troupes.