THE sun shone as thousands of residents and visitors enjoyed the biggest community event in the Croft calendar.

Families watched a parade of floats, bands and vintage tractors as they passed through the village.

Carnival queen Georgia Heyes from Culcheth High School was then crowned in Smithy Lane playing field.

The 15-year-old was joined by Hannah Garbutt, aged eight, from St Lewis’s School, as carnival princess and Popsy Walker, aged seven, from Croft Primary School, as rosebud.

Croft Primary School was the overall winner of the float competition while Eaves Brow Road residents were awarded for best decorated street with their Monopoly theme.

Meanwhile, the scarecrow contest was won by the Sharpe family of Wadeson Way.

Jayne Doody, of Croft Carnival Committee, said: “The committee would like to thank everyone who helped out with the carnival.

“A great deal of unseen work, before the event and on the day, is carried out by volunteers and without their help Croft Carnival would not be the success that it is.

“One of the main highlights was the ‘Croft Eye’, a recently restored 1940s ferris wheel that provided a bird’s eye view of the carnival and the surrounding area.”