THE historic Porlock High Street was packed with a festival of colour, creativity, and music on Saturday (September 6) as the village staged Exmoor’s only street carnival.

The usually busy A39 through the village was closed for an hour for the procession of floats and a host of imaginative walking and dancing groups led by Wellington majorettes and cheered on by a large crowd lining the route.

A huge amount of work and imagination goes into preparing for the carnival, which attracts entries of all ages, and this year was no exception, from those resplendent in their mobility scooters to youngsters from the village’s primary school.

Carnival chairman Philip Weaver said: “The weather was the best yet and we were delighted with how many folk turned up to enjoy the fun and support us.”

Donations collected by the volunteer ‘bucketeers’ will go to support a range of village activities and charities.

Prizes were awarded in the village hall.

Special award winners were: Best Comic Entry, Porlock Wurzels (Nick Lynn); Best Topical Entry, Blossoms (Porlock School & National Trust); Chair’s Choice, Porlock Duck Race (Haw and Greer family); Best in Carnival, Blossoms.

Individual categories: Adult mobile float, Porlock Wurzels; Junior mobile float, Blossoms; Individual Adult, Save the Bees (Andrew Short); Adult Walking group, We are Porlock Ladies (Porlock Ladies group); Junior Walking group, There Once was a Young Farmer (Williton Young Farmers); Trade/Pub/Hotel, The Repair Shop Can’t Win ’Em All (Porlock Home & Hardware); Visitors, Exmoor Honey (Carole Lang).

This year’s Carnival King was Alfie Fullbrook, the Princess was Quinn Walker Blair, and the Prince was Behr Adlington.

The proceedings were kicked off with lively children’s entertainment provided by David Milton’s Punch and Judy show and a bubble show by Charlie from Higher Beings Circus.

Planning will start soon for next year’s carnival, Porlock’s 40th street celebration.