Sun shines on new-look Spalding Flower Parade

Description:

Thousands of visitors soaked up the sunshine and the carnival atmosphere as Spalding Flower Parade made a colourful comeback.

A 37-piece floral cavalcade representing the five decades of the parade's history wound its way through the streets of Spalding to the delight of crowds of people who travelled from all over the country to witness the spectacle which nearly didn't happen.

Spalding's showpiece event was marked for the axe last year after its 50th anniversary, but it was reinvented for 2009 after the public spoke out and called for its return.

Parade organiser David Norton said he believed the number of people who attended the flower festival over the weekend was "about average" although probably slightly lower than two years ago.

The parade, which was led by flower queen Amy Coates on a new-look float, also included marching bands, dance troupes and a host of community groups.

South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes, who helped save the parade, said: "This was a good foundation to build on for the future.

"The principle objective was to keep the show on the road and we did that very successfully.

"Saving the parade was critically important for Spalding and I was proud to play a part."

The parade was complemented this year by some colourful displays at Springfields' outdoor arena, where the festival weekend was due to be rounded off tonight (Monday) with a fantastic firework finale.