HUGE crowds gathered for the annual Atherton Carnival on Sunday.

The parade, made up of schools and groups wearing different colours to represent countries from around the world and a variety of vintage and unusual vehicles, has been hailed as the biggest and the best yet.

Cars were decorated with flags and balloons while characters including Minions, Scooby Doo, Wacky Warehouse and Sparkle the dolphin provided entertainment.

Back on the Meadowbank fields, crowds enjoyed music and dance performances, rolling in zorb balls and watching the bulldog gymnastics team.

For those with a head for heights a trip up in Atherton fire brigade’s hydraulic ladders was a must, while Curious Critters brought snakes, spiders, cockroaches and the chance for the more daring to try the gruesome bush tucker shots.

Leigh Journal:

Fix-it UK was on hand to give buggy rides while an array of stalls offered pottery and painting classes, cakes, tattoos and a tombola.

A carnival spokesman said: “Everywhere you looked everyone was having fun and smiling which was the intention of the carnival organisers, to just bring families and friends together and enjoy themselves. A huge thank you to the Atherton Carnival committee which worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to bring this now very popular event to you out of the goodness of their hearts and for nothing in return.

“Sunday certainly paid off and made them all feel very proud and we’re looking forward to next year already.”