Titchfield'S Bonfire Boys are urging thousands of carnival-goers to dig deep when it comes chipping in towards today's charity bonanza.

Up to 20,000 revellers are expected to flock to the village near Fareham for one of the county's largest fun events, which begins this afternoon.

The day will feature the crowning of carnival queen Sara Browne (2.30pm), the HMS Collingwood Volunteer Band beating the Retreat in the Square (6.30pm) and a 7pm torchlight procession.

A celebratory beacon at the recreation ground will then herald a £3,000 firework display ensuring the event goes out with a big bang.

The carnival, run by a group of villagers dubbed the Bonfire Boys, was established in 1880.

Cash donations raised through the event enable the group to donate thousands of pounds each year to local causes.

Secretary Terry Dwyer hoped this year's carnival would prompt yet another flurry of cheque presentations.

"Some of the more enterprising members have built wishing wells. We're hoping to receive a voluntary donation of £1 from each adult."

One group of local citizens to benefit from part of the £11,000 raised by the Bonfire Boys in 1998 were local pensioners.

Every village resident aged 70 and over received a seasonal hamper - containing flowers for the women and beer for the men - on the last Sunday before Christmas.

"We delivered over 100 hampers, containing food and a card. We shopped around then gathered everything together, before taking them round to even the most distant farms," said Mr Dwyer.

"After all the work to do with the carnival, this is something nice we look forward to doing."

Titchfield Junior School also benefited last year.

Pupils were bought an £800 digital camera and a scanner so they could process their pictures on a computer.

"We're hoping children will come and take some pictures of this year's carnival with it," Mr Dwyer added.

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