IT WAS ideal weather for cricket and a carnival.

And for the first time the West End Carnival parade moved off from Hampshire County Cricket Club's state of the art Rose Bowl Ground.

It was the perfect setting for a spectacular start as a fleet of more 20 gleaming Harley Davidson motorcycles ensured that the colourful cavalcade got off to a roaring pace.

Helping it all to go with a big swing were the Bournemouth Showband the West End Showband, with its simply the best routine, and the Solent Strutters.

West End Carnival Queen 16-year-old Natalie Davenport and her court were joined by visiting royalty from neighbouring villages and from as far afield as Le Havre.

And West End Carnival goes from strength to strength with the number of entries increasing every year.

This year it was a nursery rhyme theme with everything from Old MacDonald's Farm to Sing A Song of Sixpence.

West End Pre-School scooped first prize in the walking entry class for their Mary Mary Quite Contrary colourful costume contribution.

Pupils of the village's St James School had plenty to sing about after winning the best float prize with Sing A Song of Sixpence.

Overall winners were the high stepping pupils from the Pat Standford School of Dance.

Locals from The Master Builder pub got into the carnival spirit with a float which had a building site theme complete with that traditional cheeky builder's bottom.

After winding its way through the centre of the village the carnival cavalcade ended at Hatch Grange where the fun continued. The attractions included a hot air balloon and fun fair.

Villagers were able to dance the night away to disco and live music.