Town goes for gold with carnival capers

Thousands are expected to descend on Stourbridge as the town goes for gold at its Olympic-themed annual summer carnival.

The event, on Sunday, marks 21 years of the carnival in the town and organisers have pulled out all the stops to make it the biggest yet.

Events will be staged throughout the town centre with High Street, Lower High Street, Coventry Street, Talbot Street and the two shopping centres packed out with various stalls and activities.

The fun starts at 10am when the street markets, funfair and sideshows open.

At 10.15am girls taking part in the carnival princess competition will gather in the main arena, next to the town clock in Lower High Street, with judging at 10.30am.

At 12.30pm the annual town procession will assemble in Lower High Street. A record number of people and businesses are taking part, dressed in sporting or Olympic-style clothes.

The parade will begin in Lower High Street before making its way through the arena, into Market Street, through the Ryemarket and down High Street before returning to the arena.

Town stalwart and former librarian David Hickman will then officially open the carnival before he joins a team of judges to choose the winners from the parade.

A dog show will be held on the car park of the Stourbridge Institute at 1.30pm.

St Thomas's Church, in Market Street, will be open for rest and relaxation offering visitors tea, strawberries and biscuits.

There will also be many stalls, crafts and games in the High Street.

Organiser David Harcourt said: "The popularity of the festival has grown year on year and we are looking forward to a great day.

"This is great for not only the traders in the town but also the charities and organisations which set up stalls for the event.

"Many tell me the carnival is their busiest day of the year which is a wonderful achievement."

* Around 2,000 people are expected to flock to a village carnival near Kidderminster tomorrow starting with a procession led by the carnival queen. Wolverley's parade will set off from Sebright Green at noon with queen Lauren Cryer leading the way. The fete will open at 2pm. This year's theme will be the history of the wheel.