Consigned to the annals of history, Southampton carnival was a prominent event on the diary of many of the city's residents. Because of this, the Daily Echo takes a look back at when tens of thousands of people thronged the city streets for Southampton Carnival.

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.

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.

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.

Daily Echo: Tens of thousands of spectators gathered under the summer sun to witness the largest carnival that Southampton had seen up to that date. Sholing Community Association Godd Wives. July 15, 1973.THE SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO ARCHIVES. HAMPSHIRE HERITAGE SUPPLEMEN

“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.