Rain can't dampen carnival capers

Rain clouds threatened but the success of a popular May bank holiday show in Wolverhampton was never in doubt.

Sir Patrick Cormack was among hundreds of visitors to Perton Carnival yesterday.

The retiring city MP waved to the crowds in a farewell salute as he followed the parade of colourful floats from the library to Perton First School in Manston Drive.

The weather has not always been kind to organisers but this year only a shower passed over the event which raised thousands of pounds for charities and local community groups.

Among them were the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Perton Brownies who were offering 'tattoos' at 10p a go among other attractions.

The Perton Women's Institute picked up the prize for the best stall. Their Lucky Dip was so popular that they sold out of mystery parcels, all painstakingly wrapped up by committee member Aggie Francis, after only an hour.

There was an old-fashioned coconut shy offering three shots for 50p, a soccer shoot-out game and a hook-a-handbag stall, alongside more modern attractions such as a 30ft inflatable chute and a bouncy castle.

Gardeners were drawn to trays of geraniums, busy lizzies, sweet peas, tomato and even chilli plants for sale.