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

Crowds lined the two mile procession route before tea time on July 26, 1952.

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, steamer throwing children and their families.

Majorettes, band, marchers and floats from from Southampton, Europe and even America made a colourful mile long snake of fun, flowers and music.