AN ocean-going naval ship could propel Stourport into the record books and help make this year's carnival the best ever.

The Royal Navy training ship HMS Dasher is hoping to sail up the River Severn to Stourport, the furthest upstream navigable point, and into the Guinness Book of Records

The ship - between 70 ft and 90 ft long - would also be the first to enter the canal system and it would lead the river parade on the day of the carnival on September 7.

Carnival organiser Pete Roberts said: "It's quite a sight - it's got guns and masts. The Royal Navy want it to happen and I hope it will."

And the carnival, in the year of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, is shaping up to surpass its previous best event in 1977 - her silver jubilee year.

Mr Roberts said there were already record entries for the rosebud competition and a good response for the queen and princess contests, which will all be judged this Sunday.

"In the silver jubilee year we had 52 entries for the parade - floats and walkers. We've averaged around 25 floats over the last 10 years and we're one of the biggest carnivals in the Midlands," he said.

"Let's try and make this year bigger and better."

Application forms to join the carnival's parade are available from Pete's Prints, Bridge Street, Stourport. For further information call 01299 826930.