MORRIS dancing clowns and an Elton John lookalike were among the highlights of this year's Brockenhurst Carnival held on Bank Holiday Monday.

Organisers estimated that around £5,000 has been raised for charity this year and that more people than ever turned out to watch the procession march through the streets of the village.

There were ten floats in the procession, including Lymington and Brockenhurst Lions Club's float complete with a realistic Elton John belting out his hits on a grand piano, which was actually Lion's club president John Davies.

Other groups with floats were Brockenhurst Gateway Club for people with learning difficulties, who dressed up as playing cards, and 1st Choice Private Hire, whose Morris dancing clowns proved a hit with the onlookers.

Others included the Busy Badgers Playgroup; Brockenhurst Parent and Toddler Group; the Lymington Carnival Princess and her attendants and the Brockenhurst Carnival Prince and Princess, plus vintage cars and tractors.

Watchers were also tickled by the appearance of a group of cows which were wandering the procession route just before the arrival of the floats.

Grandmother Ann Colmer, 52, there with her family, said: "We liked the dancing children. They looked like they were enjoying themselves and we liked the firemen and the big tractor."

Afterwards the crowds made their way to the fete in the grounds of Brockenhurst College, where entertainment included a bouncy castle and slide for youngsters, burger bar, stalls, helicopter rides and fun competitions.

Helping to serve burgers was Bridget Oesterreich, who travelled from Leichlingen, near Cologne in Germany, to help out.

She said: "I had such a lot of fun last time that I had to come back. The carnival is great and Brockenhurst is a very friendly place. I'll be back again next year."

There was also the chance to enjoy music from The Westwater Blues Band from Hythe; The Cavalier Jazz Band; Bournemouth Scout Band and Hot Tamalos.

Ted Wilson, an organiser, thanked everyone who had helped to make the event a success.

He added: "It's all gone off well. There are more people than ever and more floats than last year. People seemed to be enjoying themselves."

First published: August 31