A SEA of colour swept through a Ringwood as one of the South's flagship carnivals lit up the streets.

Brightly coloured floats rolled through as the town's carnival returned in full sway.

Thousands of townsfolk and visitors lined the streets and their windows to the parade wind its way along the route in glorious sunshine.

The event - which has been a highlight of the town's social calendar for 86 years - kicked off with a fair at The Bickerley village green.

Floats assembled at Parkside featuring masquerades dressed as bloodthirsty pirates and scary ghosts and ghouls preparing for the big moment.

Crowds cheered as the procession moved off along Christchurch Road and turning into the High Street.

After travelling as far as Market Place they doubled back, entering Meeting House Lane and Mansfield Road.

There were at least two marching bands playing music and a horse-drawn carriage slowly making its way along the route.

The main procession was followed by a second evening parade climaxing with spectacular fireworks at The Bickerley sponsored by Ringwood-based Churchill Retirement Living.

Those taking part in the celebrations included the town mayor, Cllr Michael Thierry, who was driven through the town in an American stretch-limo while this year's carnival queen Amy-Louise-Hasted, 16, looked stunning flanked by attendants Alana Bingham and Molly Peters.

Cllr Thierry, who handed out sweet from the open-top limo, said: "This is one of the premier carnivals in the South which draws in thousands of people. "It was brilliant to see the ingenuity of the people who create the floats and it was tremendous fun and with crowds of all ages enjoying what was a first class event.

"I'm very proud of Ringwood and it was absolutely marvellous."

The event raises hundreds of pounds for local charities and good causes working in the county.