AN array of whacky, vibrant and colourful creatures descended on Darlington for the annual community carnival.

Crowds lined the streets of the town on Saturday lunchtime to see the parade of musicians, dancers, street performers and models for the 27th annual carnival.

The event was launched at noon from outside the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace, by the town’s Mayor Councillor Jim Ruck.

A giant stilt walker led the way with five monstrous papier mache models standing out from the crowd. They depicted a dinosaur, Victorian man on a Penny Farthing and three giant creatures, one an alien.

The theme for this year’s carnival was the past, present and future. Children and community groups had dressed for the occasion in a variety of costumes.

They ranged from cavemen to characters from Romeo and Juliet, and Victorian-inspired children to robots.

A number of arts and music groups took part in the hourlong parade. They included Red Hall Dance Project, Carnival Crew Tees Valley, Rhythm Troop Band, Darlington West Indian Association, Darlington Arts Academy, Tiffany School of Dance and Richmond Town Pipes and Drums. As well as a mix of colours to delight the crowds, the marchers provided lots of sounds. There was a reggae beat, groups singing, bagpipes, a marching band, drums, whistles and music.

Other people in the parade included jugglers, a unicyclist and dancers.

Scores of people lined the route from Abbey Road, Duke Street, Skinnergate and Houndgate. Hundreds more shoppers stopped to watch the action as it made its way in to High Row and the Pease monument.

Coun Ruck said: “It was a magnificent parade. The atmosphere and amount of people supporting it was a total illustration of how good it was.

The diversity of the exhibition and ingenuity of the models on bikes was fantastic.”

People raised money for St Teresa’s Hospice. Entertainment was provided in Stanhope Park, including bouncy castles, slides, a Punch and Judy show, stalls, refreshments and more music.