THE 106th Liphook Carnival has proved a record breaker – with 3,000 people flocking to the village on Saturday night for the annual spectacular.

The fun kicked off at noon at Bohunt School with a children's fancy dress competition, which produced some wonderfully innovative creations, shown off by delighted children and proud parents.

This year's costume winners in the under-fours category were a brilliant robot, painter and decorator, flowers, and old faithful Noddy.

The category for five to seven-year-olds was won by a beautiful butterfly, favourite children's book character Pippi Longstocking, a pirate and, unusually, a crisp packet, while the over-eights category was won by cheeky Del Boy, an owl and a dinner lady.

Children's groups which stood out were The 4 Seasons, a spaceman and aliens, and children dressed as a newspaper boy and girl.

The best overall costume was won by a space cadet and a flower from a night in the garden.

Shortly after 5pm, an array of spectacular floats started to arrive in the Longmoor Road, blasting out songs and soundtracks and getting the carnival atmosphere off to a brilliant start.

By late afternoon, the judges, made up of local business people, were faced with the difficult task of choosing this year's winners in all categories.

This year's Tim Wheatley Memorial Cup went to the Likely Lads, who have been participating in the carnival for 28 years, with their true romantic Italian 'Gondola Ball' float, while the Best Overall Challenge Cup was deservedly awarded to the Girl Guides with their sensational 'Guides Go Wild' float, which housed 46 guides in the jungle, followed by another 47 wild dancers.

The Best Illuminated prize was given to the Newtownies, who recreated the Sixties era with 16 singers and dancers on their glamorous 'Love Train', while the best float on the move was snatched by The Herald Group with Batman, Robin, the Penguin, Riddler, Joker, and Catwoman starring on the Batmobile.

The best children's float, featuring close to 50 participants, was won by the Liphook Scouts, who recreated the A3 Tunnel Roadworks in their own inimitable way, complete with hard hats, jackets and lots of tea brakes. They were followed by The Dance Sensation in second place.

The best children's float prize, with more than 50 participants, was given to the spectacular 'Guides Go Wild, who picked up their second award.

The best trade float of the evening was deservedly won by Inscape Plumbing, who seized the current ABBA revival by presenting 'Waterloo', a two-part display of four rotating toilets surrounded by sprinklers and a singing, dancing and walking ABBA spectacular, with everyone dressed in white and silver spandex suits and feather boas.

Second prize went to The Darters and third to Sweeps Soldier Magazine.

The Deers Hut Pub presented 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' and walked off with first prize in the pubs and clubs section, followed by the Liphook Club 'Top of the Pops' float, representing all members of the Village People.

Carnival regulars Phil and Friends presented 'Roary the Racing Car', winning first prize for best adult floats, closely followed by the Newtownies with their stunning 'Love Train', winning their second prize of the evening.

Best steam train went to Hollycombe, who also provided some of their lovely organs to entertain the crowds, while the adults Push and Pull was won by the Motley Crew with their glorious toy box, featuring a walking Jack-in-the-box, the Deers Hut darts team with Merlin, and the 15-foot Dragon and the LiDBA team in cowboy hats and outfits with their Goes Wild West Cart.

Katie Land delighted everyone with her flower group 'In the Night Garden', as did the 'Jolly Scarecrow' by The Garveys.

Launching the evening's entertainment in The Square, where hundreds of spectators gathered, was the Liphhook Academy of Dance, who had two groups performing their routines. Regular carnival volunteer participant David Weeks collected lots of money with his bucket from the crowds and compere Dave Paton got the carnival atmosphere going.

Starting the carnival off was a spectacular 10-minute fireworks display, donated by CJ Hampshire's.

The procession was led by three new and one old fire engines and numerous members of the Hampshire Fire Service, all collecting for charity, as well as the St John Ambulance vehicle.

This year's Carnival Queen, Molly Fawcett, who was accompanied by Carnival Princess Molly Duggan and her two attendants, Olivia Breen and Emily Finch, was greeted with thunderous applause from the crowd.

Two bands – the Medina Marching Band from the Isle of Wight, complete with their fairy light decorations, and the more traditional Old Basing Marching Royal British Legion Corps of Drums from Basingstoke – and fire eaters and jugglers, entertained young and old.

The walkers, joined by Delta Radio's Minis, moved into The Square to start the long procession around the village. One by one the floats rolled by, cheered on by crowds of visitors who joined in all the songs.

Eight vintage Mini Cooper models, like something from the Italian Job, rolled past much to the delight of men in the crowd in particular, as did a flotilla of six luxury cars from the Station Road traders.

The procession of floats followed their route along the Portsmouth Road, Station Road and back up to The Square along the Midhurst Road, where hundreds of spectators had lined the streets, watching and waving. From The Square, they moved down the Headley Road, along the Avenue, before returning to their starting point in the Longmoor Road around 8pm.

The evening's festivities continued well into the night with the traditional bonfire in Bradford Park at 8.30pm, followed by a second spectacular and stunning fireworks display.

Visitors also enjoyed the fun of the traditional Fair on the Green, with numerous rides and various entertainments.

Carnival committee chairman Karen Feeney said: "I think the whole Carnival event went very well and the atmosphere around the floats before the start of the procession was electric.

"It proves that Liphook can still provide one of the most spectacular events in the area, attracting crowds from far afield and that the standard of floats just keeps getting better and better each year.

"We believe that we raised more than £3,000 through all the collections, but we are still counting.

"I would like to thank the marshals for doing a wonderful job and coping with spectators and participants to the best of their ability, as well as the 30 police officers who made sure that everything was run smoothly.

"And I would also like to thank all our sponsors and other carnival committee members who helped to make this evening happen and turned it into a success for the Liphook community."