VIKINGS, Red Indians and pirates were among the colourful characters who brought the normally quiet streets of Christchurch to life on a sultry summer evening when the annual carnival procession rolled through the town on Saturday.

Taking pride of place in the parade were carnival queen Nicola Lamb, 13, and her princess Lydia Whitehouse, 10, riding in an open top sports car and waving regally to the crowds which lined the sun-drenched route from Stanpit to the town centre.

Competition for the best dressed floats was as hot as the weather and it was the cool kids of the Answercare 'Bed Knobs and Broomsticks' tableau that melted the judges' hearts to earn the top trophy, presented by Queen Nicola before the parade moved off.

Viking re-enactment society Fafnir's Bane plundered the silverware for the best adult walking entry in costumes more suited to the Norse pole than a hot August night in sunny Christchurch.

The Tiller family from Boscombe - mum Jackie and daughters Samantha, 18, Chelsea, eight, and Sapphire, six, - were dressed for all weathers in their flowery four seasons costumes which earned them the prize for the best youth walking fancy dress.

Christchurch Lions had a lot of bottle with their animated promotion of the club's message in a bottle campaign but the booty for best adult float was seized by the fierce-looking - but kind-hearted - Jolly Pirates of Poole charity group.

FROGS - the Friends and Residents of the Grange - community group staged a topical and tropical summer holiday trailer - and waited anxiously for Sopley farmer Dennis Tanner to finish his hay-making before returning to tow them round the town.

The cavalcade led by the Dolphin Marching Band also included Ivo the clown and his pal Tumbles, the high-kicking Twirl Star majorettes troupe, and the tom-toms and whoops of the wild west show on the Champagne Leisure float.

Switched from its traditional Sunday afternoon slot as the finale to the annual week-long fiesta of fun and frolics, the parade of decorated floats and walking fancy dress entries acted as a curtain raiser to the coming week's events which culminate with music and fireworks on Christchurch Quay next weekend.

Carnival secretary Kim Brook said: "Considering it was the first time we had an evening procession there were always going to be fewer people, but I was very pleased with the number that were there.

"Everyone I spoke to seemed to prefer an evening carnival."

Highlights of next weekend include live music on the quay from midday on Saturday which reaches a crescendo with a fireworks display in the evening.

The following day sees the finals of the junior talent contest where performers include last year's carnival queen Jamie-Louis Lamb and music for all tastes from the Hayling Island Royal British Legion Band to Meat Loaf impersonator Terry Nash, and reggae group Dubheart.