THE carefree theme of many of the floats at Totton Carnival on Saturday belied the hours of work that had gone on before.

Judges picked the 7th New Forest North Scouts' Seven Seas float as their winner this year.

Scout Leader Stuart Philps said: "We are enjoying our moment of glory. We've been entering for years and have never won before."

Winners of the walking section were the combined 1st and 2nd Calmore Brownies, who were immaculately turned out as chess pieces. The theme was the brainchild of the group's Brown Owl, Fay Moran.

Other striking exhibits included the Minstead Training Project float, "Grease", Totton Conser-vative Club's Wizard of Oz, Rufus Cubs' circus theme float, and Centre Stage Theatre's Worzel Gummidge float.

Others floats had Star Wars, storybook characters and Peter Pan themes.

The Sandy Beck School of Dancing paraded an excellent Alice in Wonderland float, which, unlike the others, was accompanied by classical music.