THE floats were back to breathe fresh life into Weymouth Carnival.

After two years and a campaign by the Echo, the motorised procession was back with a bang.

An estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of the town to celebrate the return of the vehicles.

Vice chairman of Weymouth Carnival and procession organiser Shaun Hennessy said: “This year it was all about the return of the floats to the carnival. It’s what the town wanted. It’s been great.”

Some 32 floats were entered into the procession after a two-year absence. Children waved flags as the floats headed down the road.

Chickerell Youth Football Club sported red and white striped aces and hair, while on the Bees Cars float there was a dog dressed up as a bee.

There were pirates and cartoon characters, a purple octopus and a badger swigging drink from a tankard on the Skimmity Hitchers float.

Noah’s Ark Pre-school had a Christmas float, which had been in storage for the last couple of years. Manager Lyn Wise said: “It’s very exciting to be back. We’re happy to have the floats back and we’re here to stay.”

The Spice Ship in Preston entered a pirate-themed float.

Landlord Tony Buckingham, 42, said: “This is the first year we have entered.

“It’s always about the community and local people are the life blood of the pub and turn up for everything.”

Debbie Pollard, a member of the Ladies Alive fundraising group, said: “I saw the floats going into town and I actually felt quite emotional to hear the music again. I welled up and thought ‘They’re back, this is what it’s all about.”

Enzo Piscopo, owner of Enzo’s restaurant on the seafront, said: “It was been busier than last year. There’s been more excitement about it this year.”

Poppy Butcher, 81, who lives off Wyke Road, took part in the procession in her 1942 Willys Jeep to raise funds for the Soldiers Sailors Airmen and Families Association.

She said: “We’re very glad to have the floats back. “All the family enjoy carnival day.”

Restaurateur George Afedakis, whose Ta’ Dyo Adelphia restaurant entered a float, said: “I’m very pleased to see the floats back again to Weymouth.

“I was pleased to fight for that.”

The Weymouth and Portland Fairtrade Forum gave out packs of Dorset’s Clipper tea during the parade from their float of a Mad Hatter’s Fairtrade Tea Party.

The procession was the highlight of an action packed day. The fun included a space hopper race on Weymouth beach. The winner of the boys race, holidaymaker Tom Knowles, 12, from Tiverton.

Other events included a waitress trolley race down the Esplanade, a men versus women coach pull challenge outside Marks and Spencer store and a children’s fun-run from the Kings Statue to St John’s Church.

n DESPITE 100,000 people on the streets of Weymouth, emergency services and organisers said that the carnival stayed trouble free.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said that there had been no major incidents by 10pm.

He said: "There were a few incidents with children getting lost, but they were reunited with their families within five minutes and there was one elderly lady who fell over and had to have treatment from the ambulance service."

Carnival vice chairman and procession organiser Mr Hennessy said: "Nobody was coined and it was a completely trouble free procession."

Cycling paramedics Matthew Care and Chris Read were kept busy throughout the day.

Mr Care said: "We have been pretty busy today. We started at noon and by three we had six jobs.

“There have been a few people pushed over in the crowds and one diabetic collapsed so we helped them out and gave them something to eat."

He added: “One lady suffered a mini stroke, but she made a good recovery and so we referred her to her GP.

“And one man had his foot run over by the horse box of one of the floats.”