FIVE schoolgirls made up the youngest and smallest team in a big carnival procession yesterday - and collected the championship trophy plus £200.

Megan Johnson, Caitlin Jones, Hannah Jones, Jessica Hesp and Megan Walker dressed as flowers for a country garden scene in the annual Meet parade held in Barnard Castle.

The girls, aged from five to seven, defeated ten other displays entered by local organisations.

Their vehicle was cheered by large crowds as it led the others through the town.

The girls were given £10 each to spend at the carnival funfair, and Mrs Grady will decide later what to do with the rest of the winnings.

The Meet Queen, Amy Longstaff, and her attendants, Emily Holmes, Esme Tarn and Gemma Lax, rode in the parade in a trap driven by Mike Thompson and pulled by two Welsh cob ponies.

The Vince Carter Cup for the fancy dress team providing most fun went to six housewives pushing decorated wheelie bins.

One of them, Gillian Harle, said: "There is a lot of local controversy about wheelie bins, so we made a joke of them."

Barnard Castle Band led the procession wearing fancy dress.

Veteran fire engines and other vehicles also featured.

Meet chairman Steve Wilson thanked everyone who took part and said it had been the most colourful procession for several years.