A HAMPSHIRE village is to celebrate a major milestone since the arrival of its annual carnival.

Titchfield Carnival, which organisers believe is the oldest such event in the south, is marking its bi-centenary year in traditional style.

The streets will once again come to life with everything from zombies to classic cars, but those behind it want more villagers to get involved in this extra special year.

Organiser Kate Scott, who researched its history, believes the carnival is one of the oldest in the country. It has been a regular fixture for at least the past 200 years. However, parish records indicate there could have been a carnival as far back as 1611.

Kate said tradition has it that the first carnivals featured a burning effigy of the Earl of Southampton who ordered the closure of the port of Titchfield. It is debatable whether this was more of a protest march.

But organisers have found newspaper reports confirming the carnival’s existence in 1814.

The Titchfield Bonfire Boys Society got involved and adopted the carnival from 1880 onwards and still run it today.

It stopped during the war from 1940 to 1945, but women and children walked the route to keep the spirit of the carnival alive.

This year posters around the village will tell the history of the carnival.

Activities begin on October 24 with the annual carnival rings competition held at the Queens Head in the High Street.

Then on October 25, a zombie walk will see the living dead take a route through the village starting from the Horse Shoe Green in Bellfield at 4.30pm.

The next day the carnival procession from Bellfield will take entries including horse drawn floats starting at 3pm, with a second illuminated evening procession at 6.45pm.

This will be preceded by a cavalcade of around 140 classic cars at 2.45pm that will also be on show from 1pm in Titchfield Square, High Street, East Street.

Villagers are asked to put out their Union Flags on their houses.

In the evening rock band Italian Job will perform live in Barry’s Meadow at 8.30pm before the lighting of the carnival beacon at 9pm, accompanied by music from the Big Noise Samba Band.

There will be a fair in Barry’s Meadow from 1pm to 9pm with a roving ‘pumpkin’ handing out free sweets around the village as well as a roving busker playing music during the day.

There will be pumpkin bowling in Southampton Hill from 12.45pm to 1.30pm and at the bottom of West Street the chance to have a go at rodeo bull riding and see Punch and Judy shows or get your face painted outside the parish rooms during the day.

Pole dancing with illuminated hula hoops will be performed in the square from 4.30pm to 6.30pm along with performances in the square in between the processions from the Imperial Choir London and the Bournemouth Carnival Band.

Society chairman Kate Scott said: “2014 is our bi-centennial year and, as the oldest carnival in the south, it’s more than a fun tradition, but a vital representation of our heritage and identity of Titchfield.

“In the war years 1939 to 1945 my great grandmother walked the route with local children.”

Volunteers are needed to man the procession route so if you want to help call 07768 283725.