THOUSANDS of people thronged Stourport on Saturday as the spectacular annual carnival proved it has lost none of its pulling power. crowds on Stourport bridge.

One of the region's biggest outdoor parties saw a procession through the town, two river parades and live music and entertainment on the riverside meadows.

Prizes were awarded for floats, boats and walkers while traders competed for the mantle of best dressed shop. And street collections raised thousands of pounds for Stourport charities. Fireman Sam and son.

Carnival committee spokesman Pete Roberts said the event had been as busy as last year with about 20,000 people making it a day to remember.

Most were making their way home when news broke of the river accident which claimed the life of a 45-year-old woman.

He added the two river parades were even better illuminated and more colourful than previous years while the land procession did not disappoint.

"They excelled themselves - it doesn't seem to wane at all even though we've lost some of the big companies which sponsored the floats," he said.

"A lot of them are done by individuals and some people spend hundreds of pounds doing them up."

Mr Roberts added: "Standards get higher and higher. Both judges on the river and land parades said how hard the job was to do - they didn't realise how difficult it would be to judge."The Beatles take to the water dressed up in their Sergeant Pepper costumes.

Winning pedestrian entries in the street parade included Stourport Scout and Guide Band dressed as characters from the hit film Men in Black while footballers from Burlish Olympic - who turned out as cowboys and indians - were one of the top floats.

The riverside meadows saw tribute acts and three groups, wrestling and karate displays and a funfair. Carnival queen Hanna Meacham was crowned by mayor Stephen Clee while a firework display marked the finale at 9.30pm.

"There was no trouble reported around the town and no trouble down on the field," said Mr Roberts.

"Everyone had a wonderful party time dancing and singing and I had reports from a lot of the charity stalls they took record money."

Charities wishing to apply for a share of the money raised from street collections should write to Mr Roberts at Pete's Prints, 26 Bridge Street, Stourport.