A HOST of characters took to the streets yesterday for the final day of the Barnard Castle Meet.

The parade, one of the highlights of the three-day event, saw decorated floats head through the town to the Demesnes fields.

Crowd favourites included Montalbo Road Nursery's Happy Feet float and the Blue Bell pub's Little Britain float, both winning prizes.

Overall, Little Lady Birds Nursery came first, the Beaconsfield pub second and the Barnard Castle Beavers third.

Meet treasurer, Angela Grady, said: "This year's event was fantastic, it went off without a hitch. We'll be counting up the money in the next couple of days but, so far, we think the event has been a success and we should be well on the way towards next year's event.

"There was a slight change to the route this year, which seemed to prove popular, and there were plenty of people out on the street watching the parade.

"The weather held off as the parade went through town, but the rain came down once we got to the Demesnes. That was the only thing out of our control and the only thing we would have changed if we could."