Thousands enjoy Newport Carnival

The carnival appeared to have at least matched the 5,000 people who took part in last year's event.

Bands lined the High Street to entertain shoppers before scores of entrants in the carnival 10k road race made their way up through the town.

The race, organised by Newport Running Club, started and finished at Longford Hall and took the runners on a circular route to Church Aston and back.

Once the runners had gone by the crowds waited expectantly for the first sight of the main carnival procession, which was led for the first time in three years by the pipes and drums of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment.

This was the first year that the battalion, based at Tern Hill in Market Drayton, had not been away on a tour of duty for carnival day since 2011, and the soldiers were warmly received by the crowds.

They were followed by Newport's own "royal family" – the carnival queen and king and their attendants – and a long procession of lorries, trailers and pedestrians portraying everything from pirates to the Commonwealth Games.

The overall best float prize winner was the Great British Summer put together by SS Peter and Paul Primary School, which incorporated a day on the beach, Wimbledon and a garden party.

PTA member and helper Clare Booth said there were about 60 children on the 40ft trailer and they were delighted to win.

She said: "It's brilliant – they were really excited, and we were singing We Are The Champions all along the route!

"We asked the children to do some homework on what they thought was a great British summer and they gave us the ideas."

Once the procession arrived at Shuker Field, the young "royals" had the important task of releasing hundreds of red and blue balloons to officially open the carniva, the honour falling to carnival queen Ava Pascall.