Thousands of people took to the streets of Tenby on Wednesday to enjoy the lively Firemen's Carnival.

The early evening cavalcade, always a popular attraction in the first week of August, had a distinct Royal flavour this year and sailed round the town as the exciting climax to an action-packed day of activities centred around the South Parade Fire Station.

In the countdown to the carnival itself, the fun-loving firemen put on a feast of entertainment for all the family, with attractions including a vintage fire engine, coffee morning, freshly made Welsh cakes, fire-fighting demonstrations, a bouncy castle, plus various side shows.

As the clock ticked round to 5.15 pm, the final preparations were made, and the parade, led by the Swansea East Carnival Display Band, burst into life, bringing the narrow streets alive with a blaze of colour and party atmosphere as it wound its way around the town with a fire brigade and police escort.

With the aim once again to boost local firemen's fund-raising efforts for the Benevolent Fund, participants pulled out all the stops, coming up with a wide range of colourful walking entries and floats, which featured topical and imaginative creations, plus plenty of traditional favourites.

Of course, no carnival would be complete with out a Queen, and smiling Jadie Conbeer and her attendants Stephanie Rayner and Naomi Thomas, together with Carnival Princess Katy Rossiter and attendants Bethan Jones and Ella Brace, all looked pretty as a picture aboard their flower-bedecked floats.

Also joining in the seaside florics was Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas, her husband and town crier John Thomas and mace bearer John Morgan, who enjoyed a ride aboard a vintage fire engine.

Delighted with the success of the fesitivities was chairman of the station's Benevolent Fund, Lee Simmons.

"It's been a great day," he said. "There has been an excellent turnout, the weather was just right and many thanks go to everyone who has contributed to the celebrations in any way."

After the procession wound through the town, it was with bated breath that the results were announced at the Jubilee Gardens.

The judges, who were on holiday in the area, had a particularly difficult job in choosing the winners, who were duly presented with their prizes by Clr. Mrs. Thomas.

And if the fun of the carnival was not enough, the firemen also took time out to deal with an overheated van at the Five Arches en route!

Results were:

FLOATS

Best pub float - Austin Powers (Three Mariners).

Best charity float - Under the Sea (Tenby Ladies Circle).

Best decorated float - 1. Sea Monsters (Evergreen Nomads); 2. Bears House (Sarrionandia and James families); 3. Yellow Submarine, Tenby's Weapon of Mass Destruction (Tenby Round Table).

FANCY DRESS

Under three - 1. Another Royal visitor to Tenby (Rhys Griffiths); 2. Mummy's Little Devil (Lewis Waters); 3. Blooming Lovely (Alanya Thomas).

Under seven - 1. Tenby in Bloom (Hannah Saunders); 2. Madam Butterfly (Jessica Scammell); 3. Pirates of the Caribbean (Owen Rogers and friends).

Under 11 - 1. I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here; 2. Hocus Pocus (Bethan Rogers, Lily Robbins, Clare and Penny Liddell); 3. Hulk.

Eleven to 18 - 1. Game Girls (Jenna and Holly Peaty); 2. Bad Fashion Statement (Jodie, Kelly and Jess); 3. Tenby Girls Go Back To The '60s (Kirsty and Carly).

Adult - 1. Charlie's HRH Angels (Janina Louise House of Hair); 2. The Osbournes (Heywood Court gang).