The August sun beat down and the crowds came out in force for Ledbury Carnival.

Up to 10,000 people gathered in the town centre to cheer the procession.

Carnival committee chairman Steve Clegg believes that the crowd was slightly up on recent years. Organisers were relieved that a heavy afternoon downpour on Hereford stayed away from Ledbury.

With an 'historic events' theme, there were four lorry floats, one truck and three trailers plus the Weston's dray, Cleopatra with a horse and dozens of walkers.

Mr Clegg said: "It was colourful procession, led by the Malvern Samba Band, and with Herefordshire Hospital Radio helping to keep things going."

Picking up the theme, The Pheasant Farmers reminded crowds of the Great Fire of London and Homend butcher John Miles stepped out as Napoleon, with troops from Ledbury Rotary Club.

A small mishap occurred when the Weston's Dray broke down in Orchard Lane. Its passengers, including Bosbury vicar Sue Strutt and Ledbury mayor, Mary Cooper, had to walk the remainder of the route.

Mr Clegg said the headline act, Dr and the Medics, gave a fantastic performance on the town centre stage.

Andy Ward, of the Talbot, took photographs of the Carnival action and these are now on display at Tickled Pink in Church Street.

Photographs ordered from them will help to raise funds for the Ledbury Carnival Committee.

LEDBURY CARNIVAL RESULTS

Children's fancy dress: Under-eights: Finley Yeates (Neil Armstrong); Eight-16yrs: 1 Christopher Somers (Richard the Lionheart), 2 Carol Somers (Queen Cleopatra), 3 Laura Caine & Hazel Smith (Votes for Women; Senior fancy dress: 1 Marilyn Roberts (Anne Boleyn), 2 Sally Harling (The Great Fire of London), 3 Anne Stevenson (Hiss-tory).

Best bike, pram or hand-propelled vehicle/walking group: 1 Ledbury Rotary Club (Waterloo), 2 Glazydays (Birth of the NHS, Carry on Matron), 3 Ledbury in Bloom (Votes for Women).

Best equine: Camilla Beddis, Ledbury Focus (The Reign of Cleopatra).

Best commercial float: Jt 1 Neat Feet Dancing Group (First Christmas Tree in UK) & Tickled Pink (Creation of Barbie in 1959).

Best organisation float: 1 Langland Friends (Langland Victory Flight), 2 Henry VIII Feasting with his wives, 3 The Pheasant Farmers (The Great Fire of London).

Best individual on a float: U18: Charlie Green in his tank on the VE Day float; Over 18: John Miles from the Rotary Club's Waterloo entry (Napoleon).

Best overall: The Langland Victory.

Overall entries to the Ledbury Flower Show, held in the Community Hall, were slightly up on last year.

The flower and pot-plant classes were up, dahlias about the same but vegetables and cookery slightly down.

Judges praised the quality of exhibits across the classes.

Organisers say attendance by the public was very good, with a steady flow of visitors all day.

RESULTS

Best exhibit in vegetables section, points cup for most prizes in section: George Trigg, Ledbury.

Most points and best exhibit in dahlia flower section: Colin Lane, Colwall.

Points cup for general flower and pot plants classes: G Jones Ledbury.

Photography points cup: Mrs V Jensen, Ledbury.

Most points, Cookery cup: Mrs Jan Bubb, Gloucester.

Most points children's classes: Hannah Bloxsome.

Judges: Vegetables - Martin Davies, Gloucester. Flowers etc - Graham Williams, Bream. Cookery - Mrs Doncett, Ledbury. Photography/childrens - Mr and Mrs J Preece, Much Marcle.