LEDBURY Carnival appears to have been saved for another year, but it is no thanks to the rainy Bank Holiday weather.

Carnival Committee stalwarts have admitted that another "wash-out" with greatly reduced crowds and donations could have raised a big question mark over future carnivals in Ledbury.

But the crowd this year was estimated at 8000 strong or more, at least 3000 up on last year's total; and greater community support has thrown an essential life-line to the annual event.

Carnival Committee chairman, Hilary Jones said: "Despite the weather it was a good turn out. We now assume we will be having a carnival next year. A wash-out would have put this into question."

Carnival Committee member and programme editor, Johnny Chan said: "The headcount was down to what we would have had on a normal summer's day, but higher than last year.

"At the moment, I think we will have another Ledbury Carnival next year. If we had had a total wash-out, I would not be so sure."

The carnival costs over £8000 each year, with the aim of breaking even.

The funding comes from donations, including bucket collections, and revenue from commercial stalls.

The theme this year, for the 41st Ledbury Carnival, was "Step Back In Time"; but organisers might have feared they were stepping back to 2014, when deluge conditions led to a very low turn-out and people hurrying away from the town centre.

The rain earlier in the day this year, especially early morning, was very heavy indeed. But by 12.15pm, when the Carnival Procession entered New Street, only drizzle was coming down and large numbers of people were lining the town centre streets.

There were nine floats and 27 entries in total for the procession, making it one of the larger processions in recent years.

A decent turn-out and weighty bucket collections mean the Carnival Committee is already looking to the future, and an open meeting on September 21, at 7.30pm on the Market House, will give the public a chance to come up with suggestions for next year's theme.

Mr Chan said that bucket collections this year were certainly "up on last year", although every penny needs to be collected by hand and the total figure is still to be announced.

The committee is hoping the collections on the day raised at least £2000 towards the costs - something that was not achieved last year, when the heavens truly opened.

Almost 300 images, posted by Mr Chan, can be viewed at the Carnival website, at:

www.ledburycarnival.co.uk