Olympic torches, elephants and butterflies all made of willow are just some of the colourful creations being constructed by young people in Malmesbury for the town’s annual carnival.

Workshops have been held throughout the week to show the youngsters how to make lightweight structures for people to carry in the procession on September 1, including Olympic torches for the town councillors.

The workshops are based on a tradition held in St Justs, Cornwall, where carnival committee chairman James York Moore has family. There the roads are too narrow for lorries so they make structures to carry using willow branches and greaseproof paper.

Workshop coordinator Hilary Cox said: “They will be very colourful and creative when we are finished later this week.

“They are good kids taking part and they help each other out; if one has finished one part then they go and help the others – it’s wonderful to see.”

Carnival events have been taking place since the beginning of the month with many more to come until the final procession and thanksgiving service being held in September.

For more details of the events taking place, go online to http://www.malmes burycarnival.co.uk