NEXT year’s Swanage Carnival procession theme will be superheroes, it has been announced.

Preparations for the 2015 Swanage Regatta and Carnival, one of the highlights of Purbeck’s summer calendar, are already under way.

Event spokesman Becky Mack said: “One of the most important decisions the committee is faced with early on during the preparations is to choose the carnival theme.

“The theme is the focus of the carnival procession and forms the basis of our popular carnival programme.”

Last year’s regatta and carnival, attended by hundreds of thousands of visitors during the eight days, had the ‘celebrate Britain’ theme.

In November it was reported £22,000 had been raised for charities and local good causes during the 2014 event, with donations going to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, the Swanage Stroke Club, Forest Holme Hospice and the Swanage RNLI Boathouse Appeal.

Organisers hope the superheroes theme will inspire people to be as generous, if not more, in 2015.

Becky said: “At the last monthly meeting the committee voted from a selection of nominated themes and superheroes came out on top.

“We hope the theme will inspire adults and children alike to get their thinking caps on for their carnival floats, so come on all you budding super sleuths, start making those crime-busting costumes now.”

Bookings for carnival stalls begins in the New Year and one of the key aims of the carnival committee is to support local businesses.

“Therefore, we prioritise businesses in our region when selecting the stalls and offer a discount for those wishing to take a pitch for the full eight days,” said Becky.

Visit the Swanage Regatta & Carnival website, from January 1, 2015, to download a booking form or for more information.