About 20 different groups and an eclectic assortment of individuals took part in Falmouth carnival on Saturday.

The somewhat different carnival, which had been saved from extinction, was led by Falmouth Marine Band. Those taking part included the Merlot Maids (mermaids), the Birds of Fairtrade, Falmouth Youth Club, Choak's Ducks, Jackie Philips' Flower Pots, the Pleasure Pirates, Falmouth Cricket Club, 6th Falmouth Cubs, Falmouth Scouts, RNLI, Cowboys, Clowns, Falmouth Rugby Club, Nancy's Inverted Harlequins, President Bush leading his "poodle" Tony Blair, Pirates International, Seagulls, Kermit the Green-Haired Klown, Falmouth Gig Club, Last of the Summer Wine, Falmouth Art Gallery, the Falmouth Wheelers Cycling Club dressed as Vikings, the Hairy Carnival Queen, a horse, a besuited gentleman with a large, flashy necklace on a Shopmobility buggie, and K&S's Broad-Beamed Cruisers.

Considerable effort had been put in by all those taking part, and the support they received throughout town showed that the carnival remains very much a part of Falmouth Week and all it involves.

The collection for local charities raised about £800 plus £1.88 in 22 small coins, a pre-decimal halfpenny, three US cents, 50 Australian cents, 20 Cypriot whatnots, one defunct German pfennig, a button, and, for the first time ever, a plectrum!