Now carnival season has come to an end, The Daily Echo takes a look back at when tens of thousands of people thronged the city streets for Southampton Carnival.

Crowds lined the two-mile procession route before tea time on July 15, 1973, despite the parade not rolling from the starting position in West Quay Road until 6pm.

It seemed as though the whole city was out to celebrate – many of them saying it was the biggest and best they had ever seen.

Almost every inch of the route to the funfair on Southampton Common was packed with balloon-waving, streamer-throwing children and their families.

Majorettes, bands, marchers and floats from 60 organisations around Southampton, Europe and even the United States made a colourful mile-long snake of fun, flowers and music.

“It was the best crowd ever. We spent a year fretting about rain and wind, but it turned out just right,” said carnival secretary Doreen Lord.

ON THIS DAY…

A loaf of bread cost 11p.

Compilation album That’ll Be the Day was the best seller.

Peters and Lee were at number one with Welcome Home.

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut was the New York Times best selling book.

People may have been watching Last of the Summer Wine on TV.

Top of the box office was Lady Ice.