HUGE crowds turned out for the annual Easter bonnet parade through Lyme Regis on Bank Holiday Monday.

Prizes were given out to winners at the Baptist Church for their efforts, before a procession led by the Lyme Regis Majorettes along Broad Street to Marine Parade - as revellers took advantage of the sunny Easter weather.

Ben Crozier fought off stiff competition to take the prize for the best overall bonnet, while Holly Thomas' effort was named best original bonnet.

Horatio Lawrence won the prize for the best under 5s bonnet, and the Huxford family were named group winners by the judging panel.

Chairman of the Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Committee, Andy Brown said: "It is amazing how much trouble everybody took to make the bonnets.

"The standards become higher every year. Some children had spent a lot of time during the East holiday painstakingly making their hats.

"It was great to see them walking down through town and along the sea front."

Hats and bonnets were decorated to a theme inspired by Beatrix Potter - who wrote part of her book 'Little Pig Robinson' while staying in Lyme Regis. More than 60 people entered their creations into the competition, which has now taken place for the last 17 years. Prizes were handed out by Mayor of Lyme Regis Sally Holman.

"It's the biggest turnout I can remember for this event, especially during the parade through the town" said Mayor Holman.

"It looked to me like we had as many people as you get during the carnivals during the summer. It's always a really great event for the town and for getting families together.

"It was lovely to see so many charming and original bonnets being entered and so many young people taking part."

The event organisers would like to thank Judith Pothercary, Colin Boyd of Chics Computers and Gail Caddy for their generous sponsorship of the event.