Bridport carnival have announced their carnival princess and what is believed to be their first carnival prince as the town gears up for the celebrations this weekend.

During the crowning, which took place on Monday (August 15), the Carnival Princess went to eight-year-old Willow Jeffrey and the Carnival Prince went to eight-year-old Oliver Barnett.

As carnival royalty, they and their two attendants, Maisie Grace Loveless, aged 11, and Millie Frampton, aged 12, will lead the carnival procession on Saturday and the Torchlight Procession on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Bridport Carnival said: “The crowning went very well on Monday. We are hoping all the regular events such as the quiz, bingo and darts will be supported as usual, with a special emphasis on the new Carnival event Battle of the Buskers, a great new family event that runs Thursday (August 18) from 6pm at the rugby club.

Saturday will kick off with music from the Wessex Band in Bucky Doo Square from 10am and a crabbing competition at the Angling Centre at 10.45am. The parade at 6.45pm has seen all sorts in past years, from those who dressed as King Henry and his six wives to a parody of the Red Arrows using wheel barrows named the 'red barrows'. At the end of the procession winners will be chosen for the best displays and be given trophies to mark their accomplishments. The evening will then be rounded off with dancing the square until late.

Sunday is the last day of the carnival and will have the extremely popular torchlit procession through the town, with the torches going on sale at 6pm. The procession will move off at 9pm for the beach where there will be dancing and fireworks display to end the carnival.

A spokesperson added: “I think it is fair to say that after Tuesday’s deluge, we are not as worried as we were regarding the tinder dry conditions for the torchlight procession, but we are still asking residents of West Bay road to come out in force & watch, but please bring a bucket of water out with you - just in case! It is your carnival, so do your bit!”