VILLAGERS who thronged the streets to watch the West End Carnival were taken on a trip around the world.

For the theme of this year's parade, which was blessed with one of the hottest days of the year, was Carnivals of the World.

Organisers were also counting their blessings that the procession had not clashed with England's latest World Cup encounter.

Bathed in sunshine the colourful cavalcade with more than 20 entries, took to the streets of West End starting and finishing in Barbe Baker Avenue.

Earlier in the day villagers pulled together for a tug of war which was part of an action-packed carnival fete.

West End Showband headed the big parade which went global and raised the temperatures with dancers dressed in tropical costumes.

The parish council swapped its traditional municipal colours for stars and stripes with its all American float.

Kings Primary School stayed this side of the big pond with its Ye Olde English contribution and rolled out the hoops that were essential playground equipment for schoolchildren of olden times.

West End Carnival Queen Tanya Playford was joined by visiting "royalty" from neighbouring parishes.

There was also a strong World Cup theme to the carnival revelry, which attracted a cast from as far afield as Cambridge and Le Havre.

It was the spectacular costumes of the Crazy Thornhill Carnival competitors which caught the eye of the judges who made them overall winners.

After the big parade the carnival fun switched to The Master Builder with villagers partying away the night to live music.

SEE MORE PICTURES IN TODAY'S DAILY ECHO