DULVERTON carnival-goers were treated to a taste of the Orient as members of the local dental practice ditched their drills and hitched up with a Chinese dragon on Saturday night.

Their efforts for the entry Dragon Mountain earned the Dulverton Dental Practice first place in the artistic section and the artistic cup.

They beat Rackenford Neighbours' Dukes of Hazzard into second place and the cowboys from Wiveliscombe Young Farmer's Club's Wild West into third.

The procession attracted 18 floats and also featured stilt walkers and a fire-eater, while collectors raised £1,184 for good causes and charities.

The top collector once again was Cutcombe's Jill Thompson who rattled her way to £190.

The atmosphere was given the samba treatment by North Devon band Street Heat, while carnival fever appeared to strike both young and old alike.

Martha Williams had a wizard time as Dorothy and Toto to win the single child walker category and veteran entrant and collector Beryl Gale, complete with motorised wheelchair, won the single adult walker as a Red Hot Mama.

The title for best group of walkers went to members of All Saints School Association who dressed up as characters from the popular Toy Story films.

The cup for the best young farmers' club went to the Exmoor group and their entry Exmoor Goes Wild, which also clinched the best comic cup.

Alien-busting Men in Black from the Rock House Inn were second in the comic section and collected the cup for the best pub entry.

The cup for the best village entry went to Wheddon Cross Carnival Club's Heroes, who were beaten into second place in the children's section by Dulverton and Brushford Allsorts! Little Pirates.

The carnival coincided this year with the annual Exmoor Food Festival and visitors were able to combine the parade with some early Christmas shopping at a local produce and craft fair in Dulverton Town Hall.

RESULTS (in 1, 2, 3 order)

Best performance on route cup, Bampton Young Farmer's Club (Wild West Saloon Bar); best Young Farmers' Club cup, Exmoor Young Farmers' Club (Exmoor Goes Wild); best pub cup, Rock House Inn (Men in Black); best village cup,Wheddon Cross Carnival Club (Heroes); artistic, Dulverton Dental Practice (Dragon Mountain), Rackenford Neighbours (Dukes of Hazzard), Wiveliscombe Young Farmers' Club (Wild West); comic, Exmoor Young Farmers' Club (Exmoor Goes Wild), Rock House Inn (Men in Black), Silverdale Sandicotts (Herbie Goes Bananas); children's, Dulverton and Brushford Allsorts! (Little Pirates), Wheddon Cross Carnival Club (Heroes), Bernard Webber and Family (Alice in Wonderland); single child walker, Martha Williams (Dorothy and Toto), Oscar Leaver (Tiger), Lily Leaver (Fairy); single adult walker, Beryl Gale (Red Hot Mama), Yosa Barrington Arnold (Chicken in a Basket); group of walkers, All Saints School Association (Toy Story), Chrissy Thomas, Friends and Family (Pirates of the Barle), Ella Stanbury and Rachel Oliver (Your Worst Nightmare).