THE sun shone in the morning and the heavens opened in the evening — but this did not deter people turning up to support Hatherleigh Carnival.

The day started with local men taking part in the 5am barrel run through the town, which ended up in the market with a blazing fire to warm everyone up.

A well supported hunt met at 11am by the square, followed by a vocal town criers' competition.

The afternoon saw the sun shining down on the children's procession, before the crowning of the 2008 royalty.

The evening saw heavy rain set in while floats were waiting in the market, but that did not deter the entries — 28 in total.

The procession set off at 7.30pm, lead by the 2008 Carnival Queen Jackie Entwistle; Prince and Princess William Bennett and Anna Moyse, and the 2008 carnival president Albert Palfrey.

They were followed by numerous floats and bands. The procession also saw its oldest committee member, 80-year-old Donald Edwards, carrying a torch.

The evening ended as it started, with 16 young local men pulling a set of burning barrels through the town to the market.

THE 2008 Carnival Results were:

Shop windows: 1, Natural Beauty; 2, Charley's Chip Shop; 3, Pete's Home Bake.

Children's afternoon procession: Decorated cycles or prams (local): 1, Peter Pan, Tom and Annie Strawbridge, Matthew Dennis, Summer Stangroom, Jo and Emily Harley, Izzy Coughlin, Francesca, Leah and Ross Diepenbroek; 2, Mary Mary Quite Contrary, Mary Dorain; 3, South West Highways, Sam Collins, Ella, Meagan and Ruby Hegarty

Girls 5 years and under: 1, tiger, Erian Bradbury; 2, Hatherleigh Fairy, Evie Leigh; 3, Snow White, Lauren Grace. Highly Commended: Fairy Princess, Mollie Isaac.

Boys 5 years and under: 1, Mr Incredible, Zac Spears. Girls 6 to 9 years: 1, Escape From Natural Beauty, Isobel Watson; 2, Cow Girl, Shania Croom. Boys 6 to 9 years: Fair Trade, Lewie Embling. Boys and girls 10 to 16 years: Miss Devon, Kitley Lane.

Pairs 7 years and under: 1, Hello Upsy Daisy, Hello Iggle Piggle, Lily and Joe Bater; 2, Hatherleigh On Ice, Alex and Ethan Westerman; 3, Jack and Jill, Alisha Marie and William Hutton. Pairs 8 to 16 years: Credit Crunch, Austin and Saffron Guest.

Groups, 3 or more, up to 8 years: 1, Rub a Dub Dub, James, Ashley and Edward Pearce; 2, Playgroup Past and Present, Highampton Pre-School; 3, St Trinians, Hatherleigh Brownies. Groups, 3 or more, 16 years and under: 1, Bertie The Beijing Bug, Beth and Harriet Broom, Naom Rubbra, Agnes Williams, Annie Matravers, Rachel and Chelsie Piddington; 2, The Sixties Girls, Rebecca and Rachel Boyland and Tiffany Wheeler.

Evening procession: Artistic: Sir Lloyd Webber Celebrates 60, Bater, Dilling, Squire and Wonnacott. Original: 1, Lollypop Parade, Anstey and Stacey families; 2, Ice, Sharon Connor. New decorated: 8 Bit Nostalgia, Hatherleigh Youth Club. Comic local: 1, The Wii Men, Winser, Wonnacott and Stevens families; 2, Cadbury Advert On Tour, Sam Woollacott and co. Comic open: 1, Save The Post Office, Clawton YFC; 2, 2012 Olympics, Lewdown YFC; 3, Olympics, Winkleigh YFC. Artistic open: 1, Octopuses Garden, Butt and Mills families; 2, Why So Serious (Batman), Dolton Youth Committee; 3, Strictly Come Dancing, Launceston YFC. Original open: 1, Fifi and the Flowertots, Osman and Coooper families; 2, Tweenies, 1st Launceston Guides; 3, Rushford River Rafting, Cheriton and Tedburn YFC. Visiting Royalty tableaux: Dolton Queen, Shannon Davey.

Adult walking guys: 1, Aquarium, Graham Jones; 2, Rainbows and Butterflies, Dave Elson; 3, Fairy Cake, Helen Reddaway. Walking guys 15 years and under Miss Devon, Kitley Lane. 

Groups 15 years and under: 1, Bertie The Beijing Bug, Beth and Harriet Broom, Naom Rubbra, Agnes Williams, Annie Matravers, Rachel and Chelsie Piddington; 2, The Sixties Girls, Tiffany Wheeler, Rachel and Rebecca Boyland.

Decorated hand barrows, cycles or prams (local): Peter Pan, Tom and Annie Strawbridge, Matthew Dennis, Summer Stangroom, Jo and Emily Harley, Izzy Coughlin, Francesca, Leah and Ross Diepenbroek.

Trophy Winners: Best local, Sir Lloyd Webber Celebrates 60; best visitor: Octopuses Garden; best local organisation, Hatherleigh Youth Club; best comic, The Wii Men; best YFC, Launceston YFC; best walking guys, singles or pairs, Aquarium (Graham Jones); best walking guys, groups or hand held vehicle, Peter Pan; best overall, Sir Lloyd Webber Celebrates 60.