IT may have been short and sweet but a spectacular amount of effort went into making sure Wroughton Carnival returned with a bang after its hiatus.

And despite one of the lorry floats breaking down before the procession began, everyone was all smiles as glorious sunshine shone as the parade made its way through the village.

Thousands lined the streets on Saturday to admire the hard work that had gone into creating the costumes, including SNDogs and their bright wigs, Willow-brook Gardeners’ colourful wheelbarrows and Wroughton History Group and their array of different costumes from some dressed as jockeys to ladies wearing vintage finery.

Fresh from their performance at the Old Town parade, Hot Steppers livened up the atmosphere with their dance moves, with more than 25 youngsters aged two to 17 grooving to the music.

“The theme is carnival – have fun, be loud and make as much noise as you possibly can,” said dance teacher Natasha Dixon, 35.

Tick Tock Playgroup went for an up in the air theme and disguised a trolley as a hot air balloon, which youngsters Anna Wallington and Emma Christopher, both four-and-a-half years old, sat inside.

Wroughton Preschool were one of two floats to go for a Minion theme and were dressed head to toe in yellow with denim dungarees. While Wroughton and Chiseldon District Guides were Minions on the beach.

Zena Warburton, 40, deputy supervisor at the nursery, said: “The children have been really excited about it all week. Everyone has been joining in together and we’ve got 30 children plus staff taking part.”

Wroughton Youth Football Club chose a Men in Black theme and it was led by under 10s manager Paul Brown, 53, of Perry’s Lane, who has been taking part in the carnival since 1999.

Meanwhile Wroughton Infant School were superheroes for the day. There was more than 60 youngsters and adults dressed up as the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman and Spiderman.

The pubs were also teeming with people making the most of the weather and pensioners from Ladymead Care Home sat outside to soak up the atmosphere. While afterwards in Weir Field there was a dog show, fun fair and other entertainment.

Wroughton Junior School also impressed with their Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter’s tea party float, with staff and pupils both taking part.

“It is really exciting and the kids love it. There’s always a good atmosphere and it pulls the village together,” said Lynn Matthews, 42, of Moormead Road, who is part of the school’s friends committee.

“Considering for the last couple of years we didn’t have any carnival, it’s been an amazing turnout.

“The chairman of Wroughton Carnival, Zoe Spurgeon, has done an amazing job because it is only a small group of them who have volunteered to make it happen."

Pictures by Clare Green

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