Astwood Bank Carnival's royal family has been chosen

This year’s carnival queen will be Storm Cox, aged 12, with Emily Flower, aged nine, being princess, both of which attend Ridgeway Academy school.

Jack Walker, aged seven, will be carnival prince, while Eden Smith, aged six, who along with Jack, attends Astwood Bank First School, has been appointed rosebud, a new position for this year.

Rather than an interview for the members of carnival royalty the selection team continued with last year’s successful approach of holding a talent show.

This icebreaker then allowed the team to conduct a more informal chat to help them choose this year’s winners.

The carnival day itself is on Saturday, July 8.

The royalty will be leading the procession of floats, walking groups and marching bands.

Starting from SE Davis in Edgioake Lane at noon and winding its way around the streets of Astwood Bank it will return to the carnival field at 2pm, where the carnival royalty will officially be crowned.

A spokesman said: “We were overwhelmed with the response this year, there was so many people who applied and there was such a wide variety and quality of talents on show. It was a real struggle to narrow it down, but we want to thank everyone who took part.”

For more on the event, visit astwoodbankcarnival.co.uk.