THERE was a party atmosphere in Watchet throughout last weekend with live music, fairground attractions, a fete and the ever popular carnival.

This year's Watchet Carnival Weekender cost a staggering £9,000 to stage,with every penny being paid for by the Watchet Carnival Committee from the proceeds of the event's public bar.

The fun kicked off on Friday evening with Exeter band Pop Vandals entertaining a crowd of 700 people with their mix of punky pop.

The group have been likened to the Manic Street Preachers and have just signed their first record deal.

They were followed on stage by Bridgwater's up and coming guitar-based rockers Bukowski who are fast gaining a top rate reputation on the local music scene.

Carnival committee chairman David Bale said his aim had been to pick local bands with a bright future ahead of them for the weekender celebrations.

He told the Free Press: "I wanted people to come along and watch these bands and be able to say 'we saw them there first' when they've been signed to major record companies.

"We tried to choose music to suit all tastes and I think we pretty much achieved it. We hope to get even bigger and better bands over the next few years and make the event a real attraction for Watchet."

The music continued on Saturday with the nationally acclaimed tribute band The Fab Beatles.

They looked, sounded and even talked like their famous Liverpudlian heroes - and even managed to get the 1,000-strong crowd dancing during their sound check.

Sunday was a day for all the family, but particularly the children with the grand carnival fete featuring everything from a 50ft inflatable treasure island to crazy BMX bikes, sideshows and a bird of prey display.

Again there was music with a Samba band and a more traditional youth band from Bristol and these were joined by the Watchet Royal British Legion Band to lead out the carnival procession from Market Street car park.

Unfortunately, there were not as many entries as the organisers would have liked and in some classes newly donated trophies were unable to be awarded.

Mr Bale believed part of the problem stemmed from the fact that people living outside Watchet were reluctant to take part in the procession.

He said: "The weekender is not just for Watchet, it is for everyone. As for the carnival, we have a special Alien Cup which can only be won by outsiders, and we're planning to have even more trophies next year."

But the crowds still turned out in force to watch the parade, with an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 people lining the town's streets and helping to raise £600 for local charities.

The collection money would have been down on previous years had it not been for three volunteers who dressed as clowns on Saturday night and travelled around the pubs with collecting buckets.

As usual, there was a 'royal' presence at the event with Watchet's own carnival court travelling around the town on the back of a swan.

West Somerset Community College student Charlotte Hudson took pride of place as the carnival queen, accompanied by her attendant Holly Sowden, princesses Louise Miller and Charli Bushen and princes Ashley Duffield and Dominic Howells.

Trophies were presented by the carnival queen, with the Star Inn picking up three honours - best feature up to 25 feet, best pub entry and best humorous float - with their Wild West 'Star Saloon'.

Watchet Mothers' Club picked up the prize for the best tableau over 25 feet with 'Harlequinade', which was also named as the best overall float and best Watchet float.

In the walking section, Watchet Rainbows were named as the overall winners with 'Snow White and the 25 Dwarfs'.

After the carnival presentations were made to various committee members as a thank you for their hard work, more than 150 people gathered on the East Quay for a songs of praise organised by local churches.

The weekender began to wind down to the sounds of the Beachcomber International Jazz Band, before going out with a bang in the shape of a huge firework display over the harbour.

Mr Bale thanked everyone who had made the weekender a success, particularly sponsors and all who gave donations,as well as West Somerset District Council, the police and Dean and Dyball.

He also thanked the voluntary stewards who had marshalled the event, and appealed for more volunteers and prospective committee members to come forward for next year's event.

He said: "It's taken us three years to get to this stage and we've still got a lot of ideas on how to make it even bigger and better, but we need help.

"We'll be having our AGM in the autumn and everyone from both Watchet and the surrounding area is welcome to come along."

Mr Bale is also keen to set up a website to promote the annual event and would like to hear from anyone who could help.

He is still trying to track down the lucky programme winner, with programme number 112. Mr Bale can contacted on 01984 631130.

RESULTS

(In 1, 2, 3 order)

Floats: best overall, Collins Rose Bowl, Watchet Mothers' Club; best Watchet float, President's Cup, Watchet Mothers' Club; best alien entry, Williton Young Farmers' Club; best pub entry, Anchor Inn Shield, The Star Inn; best novice entry, The Clipper Clock, 'Three Little Kittens Have Lost Their Mittens'; best humorous float, Gull Press Cup, Star Inn; feature up to 25ft, Van Heusen Trophy, Star Inn, Watchet Red Cross, 'Summer Holiday'; tableau over 25ft, R&B Young Trophy, Watchet Mothers' Club, 'Anno Domini'; feature over 25ft, S&M Streets Cup, Anchor Inn; best dressed bicycle, Helwell Bay Holidays Cup, Williton Young Farmers' Club; best supporting driver, Bon Bakery Cup, The Blues Club; veteran/vintage car, Alfred Copp Trophy, Exmoor Beauty Bus, 'A40'.

Walking: overall winner, Freshfields Cup, Three Little Kittens; overall winner groups/pairs, Watch-It Video Trophy, Watchet Rainbows; best humorous, Chilcotts Cup, 'Splish Splash'; aged under ten, Mrs Woods Cup, 'One Man and His Dog'; aged ten to 16, Langley's Cup, Peter Pan Friends; adults, Councillors' Cup, Three Little Kittens, Splish Splash; group under 16, Wansborough Cup,Watchet Rainbows, 'Half The Pack'; group adults, Central Coachworks Cup, London Pride, Big Kids - Little Kids; any pair aged 12 and under, M&M Axon Cup, Gemini, Daphne and Celeste; any pair over 12, Gena Cotton Cup, Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket, Mad Hatter and Alice, Ken and Barbie.

Photos: Steve Guscott.