ORGANISERS of Thirsk Festival hailed the carnival a success, despite changes to events caused by the local outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

About 3,000 people attended events organised by the Rotary Club on Sowerby Flatts on Saturday to see a vintage car rally with 68 vehicles, some of which came from Ripon Old Cars.

The Blue Cross rescue dogs also put on an impressive agility display and there were a variety of stalls and a fairground.

The main carnival day yesterday saw more than 5,000 people attend the events.

There was concern about obtaining enough trailers for the float procession through the town, because many farmers who had promised them had to withdraw because of the local foot-and-mouth outbreak.

However, Mr Peter Odling, from the Rotary Club, explained that after consulting farmers and taking advice, haulage companies came to the rescue and the procession went ahead without a hitch.

The only other aspect of the carnival affected by the outbreak of the disease was yesterday's Knights of the Black Phoenix jousting demonstration. The jousters could not bring their horses to the event, because of restrictions on the movement of animals, so instead they used hobby horses.

Other attractions included the bed race, inter-pub tug-o-war, a fly past by Spitfire and Hurricane aeroplanes, hot air balloons, miniature railway, and an assault course.