EXCITEMENT is growing in Ledbury as the countdown to the town's carnival on Bank Holiday Monday ticks on.

And this week, raffle tickets for the event went on sale, launched at the Market House, High Street, by mayor Elaine Fieldhouse with carnival princess Emily Ryan and attendants Layla Crickett and Tilly Wright.

The mayor bought the first ticket and urged residents to support the event by purchasing tickets themselves in the days leading up to the carnival.

The theme of the event this year is A Novel Idea, which leaves participants with plenty of leeway to come up with book-themed or book-character-themed floats.

As always there will be a competition for the floats, including classes for best small and large floats, best children's and adult's floats, and best walking and equestrian floats.

As always, the parade will assemble at the rugby club, and make its way into New Street, and up as far as the traffic lights, before turning left into High Street, and up the Homend as far as Orchard Lane, before finishing at Ledbury Primary School.

And there will be plenty of entertainment in the High Street and St Katherines car park, including music from the Sequins, Nice n Sleazy playing a selection of R and B, glam rock, blues, rock and lots of 70s classics, and the Ledbury Community Brass Band.

Jill Jupp of the carnival committee said: "We encourage local and national charities to become involved and set up their stalls in the High Street, so there is plenty for people to do."

There will als be fairground rides and street entertainment from Paper Wizard, Looby Lou and Joey the Juggler.

Mrs Jupp said: "All we need now is good weather. We has lovely weather last year, and we're praying we'll get the same this year."

The 2016 carnival drew about 10,000 visitors.

Tickets will be on sale tomorrow (Saturday) and next Saturday from beside the Market House, and from Tesco in the Homend on Saturday and Sunday, August 26 and 27.

On Carnival Day itself they will be available from the Carnival Information Stall.