IT’S all change this year for the contest to pick Bridport’s Carnival Princess.

Instead of the Bridport’s Got Talent-type of event the carnival committee members have decided to revert back to the old format when contestants will be interviewed about themselves and why they want the crown.

Carnival committee member Joyce Dunford said: “Having decided which beneficiaries will benefit from carnival funds, the next decision to be made is ‘who is to be Carnival Queen, Princess and attendants?’ “The competition is being run differently this year as there is no need for entrants to sing, or dance. Independent judges will be asking questions such as. .. why they want to enter, what hobbies and interests they have etc.

“We felt that the talent competition might have put people off if they felt they didn’t have that sort of a talent and we really want to feel that everyone has a chance – after all the carnival is an event for the whole town to enjoy and we want its ‘Royal family’ to feel a big part of that.

“So girls come and enter the competition and enjoy the fun of carnival, just as the Bridport Royalty did last year.”

This year’s carnival is on Saturday, August 20, 7.30pm and the Torchlight Procession is on Sunday, August 21 at 9pm.

The procession involves 1,500 blazing torches being carried by families as they walk to the Bay for a celebration with live music and fireworks on East Beach.Torches can be bought from Bucky Doo Square from 6.30pm.

There will be fireworks at West Bay from 10pm.

Bridport Carnival was resurrected in 1971 after a previous carnival event in 1911 was abandoned in 1920. A carnival has been held every year since.

Bridport Carnival is one of the highlight’s in the town’s calendar. with the grand procession held on the third Saturday of August each year.

This procession of floats travels up West Street, then down South Street.

Other activities include carnival darts, carnival golf, a grand car boot sale, carnival fete and a fun fair at Asker Meadows.

To enter the Princess competition, fill in the form in this week's Bridport News which will be used to introduce candidates to the judges at a disco to be held at Bridport Conservative Club, North Street, Bridport on the evening of Sunday, June 26.

Completed forms need to be returned to Rebecca Fox, 42 Alexandra Court, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5QP.