THOUSANDS enjoyed the weekend sunshine for the annual Witney Carnival.

More than 10,000 people poured in to the town and to the Leys to enjoy the community event which this year had the theme of Once Upon a Time.

Cinderellas and big bad wolves filed through the town as did dozens of dalmatians while hundreds showed off their own colourful costumes during a traditional procession.

As well as the march there was also an array of acts and stalls and refreshments throughout the afternoon in what organising committee chairman Brian Wright called the town’s ‘premier event’.

Speaking after the Saturday shindig he said: “It was a really good day. “We had another good procession this year with a lot of entrants and they always get into the spirit of it.

“We had a good turnout and a lot of people there, both during the procession and in the Leys.”

He estimated that over the course of the day about 10,000 people turned out to celebrate the area.

As well as the main procession at the carnival another popular draw for revellers was the carnival derby which gives punters the chance to back their tips in six races before a grand final held at the end of the day.

There was also a carnival dog show which saw West Oxfordshire’s most impressive canines go head-to-head.

The carnival raises money for various local charities and groups and is organised by local service clubs, including the rotary club and the air training corps, and all profits go back into the local community.

Mr Wright added: “We see it very much as a family event that we put on for the town. We like to put on the event for the town and make it a good one.

“It is very hard work but always there is an awful lot of people that have contributed to it.

“From marshals, to volunteers and stewards and all the people running all sorts of events - it is worth it in the end.”

The carnival is set to make a return next year and the total fundraising tally is yet to be counted. To donate to any of the causes that benefit from the Carnival and to learn more about the sponsors visit witneycarnival.co.uk