IT'S a tradition that has seen people partying in the village's streets since before almost all of yesterday's revellers grandparents were even born.

But people at the Titchfield Carnival showed that in 120-years the event that has grown into the biggest carnival in the south has lost none of its magic.

Doubts about its future because of feared poor attendance were happily quelled yesterday as carnival chairman Julian Gibbs from the Bonfire Boys reported healthy visitor numbers.

He said: "There are definitely as many people here as last year, around 20,000 to 30,000, and it looks as if we will make enough money for next year."

People packed the streets to see scores of richly-decorated floats roll past led by a fire engine from Fareham fire station complete with the Red Watch crew.

Following behind were bands, steam engines, police cars and a host of other wacky vehicles.

Coins sailed through the air as people threw money to their favourite floats, most of which were collecting for local charities.

There were furry floats with dancing girls in miniskirts, a teddy bears' picnic, Alice in Wonderland and The Italian Job complete with a suspended Mini crashing into a wall.

One of the more risqu and crowd pleasing floats was a Calendar Girls tableau modelled on the famous naked WI calendar but only going as far as to wear plastic breasts outside their respectable clothes.

Events were broadcast live throughout the world via the Internet on a Webcam and organisers reported that hundreds of people all over the planet were logging on to watch.

Julian Gibbs, dressed in Bonfire Boys attire of Guy Fawkes hat and cloak, said: "This year is the definitely the best so far, there are far more people than we have seen in the past.

"It takes around £15,000 to £20,000 to put this on and we are asking people to give £1 per adult and about 50p per child, which is not a lot."