ILMINSTER is once again gearing up for the children’s carnival, with organisers hoping this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever.

The annual event is being held next week on Saturday, September 24, a week ahead of the town’s main event.

Gemma Champion, organiser of Ilminster Children’s Carnival, said: “It is open to entries up until the Thursday before the Children’s Carnival. We are hoping for more entries than last year and good weather again.

“We had more than 20 entries last year which was very good. We are looking forward to seeing what everyone is going to bring.

“The last two or three years we have had more entries and more groups with brownies and rainbows, Sunny Ile adn and Cheeky Monkeys.

“We have some entries from the main carnival as well.

“We have been quite lucky with the weather in recent years. We have all meet in the youth club car park. For the last five years or so we haven’t had rain so let’s hope it is nice again.”

An entry form for all of the classes is above, and it promises to be another high-quality year of entries. Judging is set to start at 1pm, with the procession due to leave the Ile Youth Club at around 1.45pm.

The parade will go from the youth club into East Street, Silver Street, Strawberry Bank, North Street, East Street and finish back at the youth club.

There will be prizes awarded for nine classes, as well as the Chard and Ilminster News cups for overall best and for originality, the Tony Goverd Cup awarded for the spirit of carnival, and the Barbara Lee Cup awarded to the best overall individual costume.

The winner of each class collects a prize of up to £14, with prizes for second, third and fourth.

The Ilminster Carnival committee are also holding a decorated window competition from Saturday, September 24 to Saturday, October 1.

David Amor, of the Ilminster Carnival committee, said: “This year we are really keen for as many shop owners as possible to enter into the carnival spirit by entering our decorated window competition. We would like the display to be put in the windows by Friday, September 23, so that it can be seen right through to Saturday, October 1, which is the main carnival day.

“The theme is carnival. This has been popular in the past and we know a lot of shops like this theme. The winner will be announced on carnival night at the Market Square with all the other carnival results.”

For more information, visit www.ilminstercarnival.co.uk, call 01460 54649 or e-mail ilminstercarnivalcommittee@hotmail.com.