ORGANISERS of Tadcaster Carnival have hailed the event as an unbelievable success – and may now stage another one next year.

The carnival was revived this year after an absence of more than two decades as part of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

And despite heavy rain, the streets were packed with cheering onlookers as hundreds took part in a parade through the town on Sunday, said Coun Richard Sweeting, who chaired the town’s jubilee steering group.

“We brought the carnival back to Tadcaster after 23 years and it was unbelievable,” he said. “It brought Tadcaster alive. The community spirit came alive.

“It was overwhelming. It brought tears to my eyes to see Tadcaster so full. The people of Tadcaster should be proud of themselves.”

He said about 300 people were involved in 28 attractions in the parade, which included floats, bands and people walking. “It was absolutely chucking it down, but there were about 1,000 people in the streets.”

He said about 3,000 to 4,000 people then came to an open air concert in the evening, featuring a series of tribute acts, and another 500-600 people came to see the Jubilee beacon lit on Monday evening.

The carnival was originally viewed as a one-off event but Coun Sweeting said it was greeted with such enthusiasm that he and fellow organisers were now looking at staging another one next year.

He said that in all his years as a councillor, the carnival and jubilee weekend had been one of his best moments. “It made people happy,” he added.