D OOM and gloom all over the place? A country in crisis? Everyone down in the dumps?

Anyone believing that should have been at Portishead on Saturday to revel in a day of spectacular carnival.

After looking dead and buried seven years ago, the historic annual event is back to its glory days.

Hard work and dedication plus tremendous community support resulted in a cauldron of noise and colour involving hundreds of men, women and children.

The High Street was lined with cheering crowds as the festive cavalcade snaked its way from the Lake Grounds to the Clevedon Road show field.

Heralded by the City of Bristol Pipe and Drums, the procession was led by two horse-drawn open landaus, carrying the carnival King and Queen, Tom King and Natasha Clark, with their Royal family.

Stretched out behind them were 20 monster lorries, countless speciality vehicles and dozens of walking groups, all immaculately decorated and dressed.

Gordano Sharks RFC set the scene with a tribute to the British & Irish Lions' rugby tour of South Africa and Swiss Valley Rangers juniors flew the flag in a Celebration Of Football.

A superb Roman epic with togas, chariot and lashings of gold deservedly won superstore Co-operative the humorous trophy.

It was a bittersweet day for the stalwart Osment family, who have been part of carnival for around 30 years. They dedicated their Pearly Kings and Queens entry to three family members lost during the past 10 years and in so doing, picked up the coveted Community award.

The battle of the schools heated up with the addition of the new Trinity School, whose 50 Years Of The Mini included two real cars and more than a dozen mock-mini buggies following on foot. A first-class effort and a force for the future.

High Down Infants pitched in with The Magical Kingdom, a castle with a sleeping beauty, court jester and be-wimpled maidens, while the Juniors went Hollywood with Chaplin, Monroe and Captain Hook in Magic Of The Movies.

A 40ft caterpillar took left, right and centre stage in St Joseph's tribute to A Very Hungry Reader and the ever-inventive Portishead Primary covered Mary Poppins, from shiny carousel to smoky chimney.

But the supreme champion cup went to a supreme champion, St Peter's Primary, whose luxurious commemoration of Kew Gardens' 250th anniversary won both the Topical and School categories. Added to that, their walking group came out on top making a total of four additions to the bulging school trophy cupboard.

With similar events falling by the wayside in other parts of the country through lack of lorries, the substantial turnout of floats was due to miraculous work by co-organiser Wendy Watkins.

"It was a nightmare task," she said, " but despite the paperwork and high costs involved, companies were marvellous and we are so grateful."

After the procession, the show field was a maelstrom of music and colour.

Enormous fairground attractions towered over stalls run by local organisations.

The beer tent did brisk business to the music of Irish trio The Shenanigans, while onstage the much-travelled showband Souled Out kept the rapt crowd entertained.

BBC weathergirl Jemma Cooper paid tribute to the carnival committee's hard work before town council chairman David Pasley presented the awards, which included a special cup for Donna Addy, marking her loyal service to carnival.

It was party time at Somerset Hall in the evening when Stones tribute band, Mick Jogger and the Rolling Zones wrapped up another great day of community merriment.

Community Cup: 1 Pearly Kings and Queens – The Osment Family, 2 The Harris Family, 3 Jonah & the Whale, Gordano Valley Church.

Public House: 1 Top of the Pops – Phoenix Bar, 2 In the Summer Time – Portishead Town Football.

Topical: 1 Kew Gardens – St Peter's Primary, 2 The Very Hungry Reader – St Joseph's School, 3 Mamma Mia – Portishead Juniors/United JFC.

Humorous: 1 Rome-ing all over Portishead – The Co-operative, 2 Mr Men & Little Miss – Portishead Youth Centre, 3 The Flintstones – Thatchers Appreciation Society. School: 1 Kew Gardens – St Peter's Primary, 2 Mary Poppins – Portishead Primary, 3 Magical Kingdom – High Down Infants. Walking group: 1 St Peter's Primary, 2 Best Behaved Dogs, 3 High Down Infants. Individual: 1 Matt Lewis & Friends, 2 Enchanted.

Overall Champion: St Peter's Primary.