THOUSANDS of people will line the streets of Ringwood today as the town's annual "festival of fun" returns.

The annual Ringwood Carnival has two processions - one at 2pm and another five hours later.

Roads in the town centre will close between 1.30pm and 4.30pm and again between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

This year's carnival queen, Katherine Douglas, who will be joined by her two attendants, Georgia D’Cruz and Alana Morris. The carnival princesses are Anastasia Harris and Immy Brooks.

The girls will ride through the town in a horse-drawn dias led by members of the Sampson family and their Percheron horses.

Other activities will take place on Bickerley Green from 12.30pm.

A carnival spokesman said: "It's the place to soak up the atmosphere both before and between the processions.

"This year it’s rammed to the rafters with live performances from 3pm, including Simon Chainey and Gang, Bollywood Dancing professional performances and Amie Knight."

The grand finale is once again a spectacular firework display at Bickerley Green at about 9:30pm.

Ringwood's first carnival in 1928 was held to fund the purchase of a field from a Mr Carver.

Subsequent carnivals followed in 1931 and 1934, when the Coldstream Guards marched through the town in full dress uniform.

The first carnival to be held after the Second World War took place in 1950 and the event has continued to wow the crowds ever since. Today it is Ringwood’s largest and most important community event.

The spokesman said: "It consists of two processions - an afternoon children's procession and an evening illuminated parade.

"Both parades feature wonderful community floats designed and built by groups, schools and businesses as well as families and friends.

"Included within the parades are fantastic marching bands, steam traction engines and dance groups.

"As well as the processions there are also street entertainers, bands, live entertainment and arts and crafts, plus fireworks and the huge Adlam’s Funfair."