WET weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of families, visitors and holidaymakers who played their part in the annual Lyme Regis Easter Bonnet Parade.

The popular event held on Sunday, which took the theme of Beatrix Potter this year, is renowned for attracting a large crowd both in Broad Street and along the seafront.

Rain forced the cancellation of the traditional parade for the first time in 16 years but entrants, who were not deterred by the gloomy weather, headed inside the Lyme Regis Baptist church to parade instead.

Town Crier Alan Vian said: “It is amazing how much trouble everybody took to make the bonnets; the standards become higher every year which is just fantastic.

“Some children had spent a lot of time during their Easter Holiday painstakingly making their hats.

“It was such a shame that the parade had to be cancelled but the event still held a brilliant community atmosphere and people paraded inside the church instead, which was full of people.

“In many ways, this event always sets everybody up for the summer and despite the wet weather everybody had a brilliant time.”

This year children and adults were invited to decorate their hats and bonnets with a Beatrix Potter theme.

Beatrix Potter stayed in Lyme Regis and wrote 'The Tale of Little Pig Robinson' set in the fictional town of 'Stymouth', which is, in part, based on Lyme Regis.

She stayed in what is now the Mariners Hotel in Silver Street, describing Broad Street as 'a lovely street'.

There were prizes in five age groups as well as those for men and women and special prizes for the best under five entry.

The Treetops Cup was presented to the best entry overall.

There were more than 40 entries in the competition which was judged in the warmth of the Baptist Church.

The prizes were presented by cllr Lorna Jenkin representing the town mayor, who was taking part in the exchange visit in St Georges Bermuda.

The organisers would like to thank Judith Pothercary, Colin Boyd of Chics Computers, Belinda Iyavoo from Treetops Residential Care Home, Gail Caddy, and Mike and Claire Moles of Staples Stores for their sponsorship of the event.

AWARDS

AGES 0-3

1st Emilyn Schemri

2nd Jennifer Oswald

3rd Charles Rutherford

4th Ruby Ford

AGES 4-5

1st Bertie Foster

2nd Manon Vigliecch

3rd Willow Voysey

4th Kieron Scott

5th Annabell Andrews

AGES 6-7

1st Belle Hallett

2nd Alice Carr

3rd Eva Hiller-Draper

4th Callum Ford

AGES 8-10

1st Grace Knowles

2nd Katharine Carr

3rd Megan Foster

4th Ella McLachlan

5th Kirston Huxford

6th Ella Parfitt

AGES 11-15

1st Bethany Pomeroy

2nd Megan Voysey

3rd Jasmine Voysey Pushchair

4th Willow Voysey

WOMEN

1st Sue Foster

2nd Lesley Huxford

3rd Elaine Voysey

MEN

1st Mark Foster

BEST OVERALL ENTRY UNDER FIVE

Emilia Schemri

BEST ENTRY OVERALL - THE TREETOPS CUP - MEMORY OF BARBARA AUSTIN MBE

Grace Knowles

BEST ORIGINAL ENTRY - CHICS COMPUTERS CUP

Belle Hallet

BEST OVERALL GROUP ENTRY - THE LYME REGIS EASTER CUP

Pothecary Family