FROM washing machines to pirates to The Beatles – colourful carnival entries brought a party atmosphere to the streets of a Hampshire village.

Fair Oak Carnival brought hundreds of people out on to the streets to bask in the sunshine and dodge the showers.

Crowds gathered more than six people deep at some points to catch a glimpse of this year’s entries, while others made the most of their vantage point by placing dining room chairs on their driveway to enjoy the action.

Participants included cowboys and Indians from Rainbows Pre-school, a neon theme for Oakliners Line Dancers, pirates from the Happy Days Pre-school, Bertie Bassett, Army cadets and Fair Oak Street Pastors.

A Turn Back Time theme saw pupils from Fair Oak Junior School dressed as Egyptians, Romans, cavemen, princesses and evacuees, while Wyvern College brought a Caribbean flavour to the event with their steel drum performance.

Participants also collected coins along the route.

Overall winner was Footprints Pre-school with its emergency services themed float, which included youngsters dressed up as nurses and firemen.

The procession led on to a funfair in New Century Park, where residents could enjoy rides, refreshments, sumo wrestling in special suits and a number of community stalls.

Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council took over the running of the event from the community association in 2003.

Proceeds from the event will go towards replacing Christmas trees outside local businesses with Christmas lights.

John Parkinson, 34, of Sandy Lane, Fair Oak, who was with wife Jen, 36, and children Ellie, 10, and Louis, 8, said: “It gets better every year and luckily the rain held off.

“We wanted to come out and support the community.”