WEYMOUTH is ready for a memorable carnival this year.

Eight months of planning the biggest charity carnival in the South of England comes to a head today with the arrival of Weymouth’s biggest and brightest day of the year.

Rotary carnival chairman Robert Sedgbeer said all the preparations had been made so it’s now down to the public to enjoy themselves and give generously.

Mr Sedgbeer said: “We’re expecting a bumper crowd of 150,000 at this year’s carnival. It’s going to be fantastic.

“Dorset County Council is making Boot Hill two-way just for today which will ease traffic congestion and even the weather forecast isn’t looking too bad. Fingers crossed, it’s going to stay dry.

“Now we want as many people as possible to get down here and support the carnival.

“All the money from programme sales and sideshows as well as coins dropped into the collecting buckets will go to local charities, so dig deep.”

Mr Sedgbeer said he would like to thank carnival committee members and other volunteers for their hard work and dedication to make the carnival a success.

“It takes a lot of teamwork and effort. Events like this don’t happen on their own,” said Mr Sedgbeer.

The Rotary Clubs of Weymouth took over carnival organising duties this year and have arranged appropriate insurance cover so motorised floats can return to the procession after a two-year absence.

Carnival vice-chairman and procession organiser Shaun Hennessy said there had been a flood of last-minute entries to the procession – forms were still coming in late yesterday afternoon.

He expects more than 60 motorised floats to take part as well as scores of walking entries.

The procession will be led by the New Orleans marching jazz band, Excelsior.

Mr Hennessy said: “We’re up to the sort of figures for floats that we had in carnival’s heyday – this is really going to be something special.

“Judging by the amount of work that has gone into entries I can say it’s going to be a spectacle.”

Mr Hennessy said one trophy had been returned after he appealed in the Echo last week for carnival prizes.

He added: “It’s fine because we’ve got new trophies and Weymouth businesses have been supportive as ever and agreed to sponsor them.”