Thousands of people packed Worthing seafront for an afternoon of colourful carnival capers.

Cheering and waving spectators were four deep in places as the annual rotary procession wound its way from Goring greensward to Steyne Gardens.

The omens didn't look good when floats lining up for the start got a short sharp soaking from a brief shower.

Noah, alias Patrick Formoy, who took centre stage in an ark designed by the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service, seemed to be tempting fate.

King Neptune, alias Roy Hunter, and his entourage of mermaids on the Broadwater Community Association float, also kept one eye on the steely-grey heavens.

But the rain held off for the rest of the event and the sun even made a brief appearance as carnival princess Jessica Hunt, 12, sensibly armed with an umbrella, led the procession along Marine Parade perched on the back of an open-topped Mercedes sports car.

She was followed on the top deck of a Southdown bus by Mayor and Mayoress James and Mel Doyle, and dignitaries from the Rotary Clubs of Worthing and West Worthing, which organised the carnival.

It was a day to remember for Broadwater brothers James and Thomas Towse, aged five and four, who drove along in a classic 1934 Austin Seven motor car owned by their grandparents, Jennifer and Brian Wakeford, from Findon.

Cheerleaders from Littlehampton dance troupe Explosion were celebrating victory in a national competition at Loughborough where the group was named as the best new squad of pom-pom girls in Britain.

The troupe is now fund-raising in a bid to take part in an international contest in Georgia, USA, next March.

Campaign group Worthing Against War displayed banners on its flower-power float stating: "So where are the weapons of mass destruction then?" and "Give peace a chance".

Lancing-based Moonlight Winter Guard majorettes flew the United Nations standard alongside the Union Flag on their float, compete with the slogan "Children of the world unite in peace and harmony".

The Baha'i Faith, to which the late weapons expert Dr David Kelly subscribed, continued the theme with another banner stating "The Earth is but one country and mankind its citizens".

Meanwhile, the 2nd Worthing Scout pack celebrated its 80th anniversary with a float depicting the nursery rhyme "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe".

Guild Care, formerly Worthing Area Guild for Voluntary Service, was also celebrating its birthday, having chalked up 70 years in the town.

The leafiest float was entered by Ferring Country Centre while the noisiest was provided by the Stray Cats Youth Centre.

The Sidney Walter Centre took the TV show Stars In Their Eyes as its theme, while Penguin Hockey Club managed to get a full team and a goal on its low-loader lorry.

Frank Lalonde gave a hint of celebrations to come by dressing as Santa to drive the Link Romania bus, followed by Carol and John Hunnisett, grandly dressed as King Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn in ornate costumes which took 13 months to make.

Littlehampton sent over its contingent of carnival queens and princesses in the form of Shelley Bone, 15, Tara Moore, 16, Jenna Jeacock, 11, Victoria Smart, eight, and Jodie Robbins, nine.

The Corps of Drums Society, Worthing Thunder basketball club, the Alpha Christianity course, the Regis Troopers and a contingent of Mini owners also made a welcome appearance.

At Steyne Gardens, people were greeted by a funfair on the promenade, a charity fete and a flower show in Steyne Gardens Methodist Church.

All cash raised from the carnival and collected along the parade route will go to rotary charities at home and abroad.