Spirits were riding high in Doddington as a procession of floats paraded through the village for Doddington Carnival.

Cambs Times: Doddington Carnival - parade 2014. Picture: Steve Williams.Doddington Carnival - parade 2014. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

The village turned out in force to enjoy this year’s parade, which had a theme of TV, followed by a range of family fun entertainment.

Cambs Times: Doddington Carnival - parade 2014. Picture: Steve Williams.Doddington Carnival - parade 2014. Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

The Doddington Carnival and Sports Committee judged the best float as Mad Mum and Chums’ Noddy float (senior winner) and Lionel Walden School’s Shaun The Sheep float (junior winner).

Crowds were out for the event, with Church Lane and Newgate Street packed for the procession led by Carnival Prince Thomas Hanley and Princess Grace Cronin, both from Lionel Walden Primary School.

Budding local Usain Bolts took to the track at the recreation field when the sports day got under way which included a mums and dads spacehopper race and three legged races.

And if sport wasn’t your thing, there was plenty more fun to be had with a spitfire fly past, stilt walking, face painting, bouncy castles, a bucking bronco and raffles.

As part of the Doddington Carnival celebrations, a live band played a range of covers, including Thin Lizzy and The Rolling Stones, throughout the afternoon.

A scarecrow trail drew competitors from around the village with winners Amber, Toby and Jayden Richards with their entry Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom.

Second was Lizzie and Lottie Wild with Peppa Pig and third was Ros and Elliott Groves with Cyberman.

The only window display and therefore the winner was Doddington Fish Bar.

The Carnival originates from 1922, when the then headmaster of the village school, Lionel Sedley, joined the Doddington Whist Club. He suggested that the club organise a treat for the local school children in the form of a Sports Day.

This event took place in August 1922, with 35 Races and cash prizes of a shilling for the winners.

This continued until 1937 when the Whist Club disbanded and gave their surplus funds to the British Legion on the condition that they continue to organise the event.

In 1966 Doddington United FC took over the running and finally handed the event over to a dedicated committee in 1981.

This committee has organised the Sports Afternoon ever since, adding the Carnival in 1986.