WATCHET is well and truly back on the local carnival map after a bumper display of colourful characters took to the streets for the annual parade. Crowds made the most of the good weather and turned out in force to cheer on the carnival competitors, while entries came from across the area. The overall honours went to relative newcomers Unicorn CC from Bridgwater with their poignant tribute to the men and women who served in World War One. The club was set up specifically to raise awareness of the work of the Royal British Legion and its annual Poppy Appeal. Unicorn CC also won the Crier Cup for the best first time entry, the title of best alien entry and the Dave the Mace Cup for best feature float under 30 feet. Carnival committee member Jackie Bale said she was thrilled people from beyond the town were taking the time to enter the annual procession. "All our entries were absolutely fantastic but it was good to see people from outside the area wanting to take part. "The turnout was up on last year and after having a bit of slump back along, hopefully we're on the up again. "So many carnivals have disappeared over the last few years it would be such a shame if Watchet went the same way too," Jackie said. Sunday's grand procession wound its way from the Market Street car park, through the town to the memorial ground, the venue for the town's village fete. Fete-goers were able to enjoy a whole afternoon of entertainment, including falconry displays, a marching band, stalls and games. There was even a tongue-in-cheek mini version of a traditional fete, which was duly opened by Watchet Mayor Loretta Whetlor - who cut a suitably downsized foot-long ribbon to declare the pint-sized extravaganza open. And while the top carnival honours may have gone outside of the town, there was still plenty of silverware for Watchet-based entries, with judges Dave Westcott, Pam Bosley, Kim Cooper and Simon Cooper facing some tough decisions. The Friends of St Audries Court went away with the Wessex Malthouse Cup for the best walking group and won the best vehicle with their take on the title 50 Shades of Grey. Knights Templar First School's Parrot Club also had a successful carnival, winning the Kidz Cup for the best children's U11 entry with School's Out for Summer and claiming the title of best dressed drive for John Sutton. Zippy Shopland and friends raised a few smiles with their version of the popular television comedy Mrs Brown's Boys and took the Paddy Flynn Cup for the best humorous entry and a second place in the best feature float under 30 feet. Staff and customers from the West Somerset Hotel partied Rio-style to win the best pub entry and a second place in the best feature float over 30 feet. And fresh from their production of Peter Pan at Minehead's Regal Theatre, members of Dreams School of Dancing staged Dreams in Neverland to win the best feature float over 30 feet and second place in the best humorous entry. Ray Waterman strode home with the Howard Strong Memorial Cup after his stilt-walking Walk Tall alien won the best walking single/pair category, while The Garden Room in Swain Street was given the John Hamilton Memorial Trophy for being the best dressed shop. Carnival queen Chai Anning was presented with the Jade Chatfield Memorial Trophy by Judith Chatfield to mark the start of her 'queenship' and was joined by other members of the Watchet 'royal family' - attendant Natasha Fisher, princesses Astral-May Margison and Eleanor Lovell and princes Samuel Isaacs and Cody Burnell-Butler - for the parade. RESULTS AND MORE PICTURES IN THE FREE PRESS.