ALMOST 5,000 people gathered in Hatherleigh last weekend for the town's 108th carnival.

The carnival fun started on Friday with the traditional pulling of the unlit barrels by local children from Bridge Street to Sanctuary Lane, with Hatherleigh Jazz Band accompanying them on the way.

The first burning barrel run took place at 5am on Saturday morning, with the Eggesford Hunt's arrival at 11am filling the town square with hounds and horses.

The afternoon procession saw nearly 20 entries pass through the town, led by 2011 prince and princess Zak Spears and Amy Connor, and carnival queen Hannah Anstey.

Carnival president Syd Newcombe was unable to attend due to illness. However Syd's nephew Steven Brock filled in on his behalf to carry out presidential duties, including the crowning of the carnival royalty.

The chosen charity of the carnival queen was the Exeter Leukaemia Fund, in memory of Hannah's great aunt Marie Daniel, who was a passionate carnival supporter. The Queen's Tableux released four doves at the carnival, to represent Marie and the three parts of the Holy Trinity.

The weather held out for the evening procession, which was passsed through the streets before the final blazing barrel run to bring the carnival to a close for another year.

Kay Stevens, carnival press secretary, said: 'It was a really good day, with dry weather and a lot of entries in all carnival categories. The standard was very high, which was good to see.

'The carnival and tar barrel committee would like to thank everyone who helped make the carnival a success, and we would also like to send carnival president Syd Newcombe our best wishes and wish him a full and speedy recovery.'

Results:

Shop window display: 1, Cornucopia. 2, KB Computing. 3, Salar Gallery.

Afternoon results:

Decorated cycles and prams, local: 1, Long Live Hatherleigh Market. 2, The Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Hutton and Co.

Girls, aged 5 and under: 1, Olivia Slee, Dorothy, Wizard of Oz.

Boys, aged 5 and under: 1, Joe Bater, Smurfs up. 2, Ed Selwood, Lightning McQueen, and Henry Gill, Bumble bee.

Girls aged 6 to 9: 1, Maya Holly Porter, Rubik's Cube. 2, Mary Dorain, Queen bee.

Boys aged 6 to 9: 1, Niall Alford, the Frog Prince.

Boys and girls, 10 to 16 years: 1, Saffron Guest, Miss Remembrance. 2, Benjaming Rogers, Turkey. 3, Louise Gleeson-Warren, Recycling Girl.

Pairs 7 years and under: Joint 1st: Abigail Bennett and Sienna Bryant, Little Miss Gigles and Little Miss Princess, and Zara Priday and Lottie Dumpleton and Weather Girls.

Pairs 8-16 years: 1, Sophie Reddaway and Hannah Keats, Neon girls. 2, Sam and Tom Priday, Harry Potter and Wheably.

Groups 3 or more, 16 and under: 1, The Knight, Bakehouse and Bridges families, The Smurfs. 2, 1st Hatherleigh Brownies, Bo Peep.

Decorated cycles and prams, visitors: 1, Leonie Luffingham, Pretty in Pink.

Evening results:

Artistic, local: 1, Brock family, Stairway to Heaven.

Original, local: 1, Highampton School PTFA, Circus. 2, The Dilling, Wonnacott, Squire and Bater families, Mary Poppins.

Comic, local: 1, The Hancocks, Riches and company, Hatherleigh's elite athletes prepare for 2012. 2, Stevens, Cann, Hutton and Jones families, 'That Lot' does Gnomeo and Juliet. 3, Nat Wonnacott and co, Happy Birday.

Comic, visitors: 1, Winkleigh YFC, Bob the Builder Project: 2012 Olympics. 2, Clawton YFC, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 3, Lewdown YFC, Grease. Joint 4th, Bradworthy YFC, the Lynx Effect, and Shebbear YFC, Dukes of Hazzard.

Artistic open: 1, Kath Bolt, Candyman. 2, Maggie Kelly, Summer Garden. 3, Launceston YFC, James Bond.

Original, visitors: 1, Cheriton and Tedburn YFC, Japanese Tiko drummers. 2, Okehampton YFC, Rugby World Cup 2011. 3, Bow YFC, Las Vegas.

Visiting royalty: 1, Dolton Royalty. 2, Okehampton prince and princess. 3, Launceston royalty. 4, Holsworthy Fairy Queen. 5, Okehampton Queen.

Adults, single: 1, Graham Jones, British Olympics Coming to Town. 2, Jacky Entwistle, I'm Totally Dotty.

Adult pairs: 1, Paul Baker and Antony Mills, One of our dinosaurs is missing. 2, Mark Bakehouse and Mark Andrews, a pair of clowns. 3, Helen and Laura Reddaway, Good as Gold?

15 years or under: 1, Saffron Guest, Miss Remembrance.

Pairs, 15 years or under: 1, Sophie Reddaway and Hannah Keats, Neon Girls.

Adult groups: 1, Morgan, Stephens, Piddington and Brown. 'Owzat.

Decorated hand barrows, cycles and prams, local: 1, Strawbridge, Dennis and Stangroom, The Smurfs. 2, Harry Edwards Brady, Long live Hatherleigh Market.

Trophy winners:

Best walking, mens, classes 10 to 13: Graham Jones, British Olympics are Coming to Town.

Best walking, mens, classes 14 to 17: Strawbridge, Dennis and Stangroom, the Smurfs.

Best local: Highampton School PTFA, Circus.

Best visitor: Kath Bolt, Candyman.

Best local Organisation: Highampton School PTFA, Circus.

Best Comic: Hancock, Riches and co, Hatherleigh's Elite Atheletes Prepare For 2012.

Best Y.F.C: Winkleigh YFC, Bob The Builder Project 2012 Olympics.

Best Overall: Highampton School PTFA, Circus.

Shop Window: Cornucopia