WHERE better to choose a queen and some young princesses than at Royal Wootton Bassett?

Carnival celebrities were selected from 32 keen young candidates at a well-supported event hosted by the Angel Hotel in the ballroom last weekend.

The young 'royals' ranged in age from pre-schoolers to teenagers.

The Carnival Queen for this year is Katy Harris, 12, who attends Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and likes dancing. She told the audience that she loves the town's community spirit, especially its carnival, Christmas lights and competitions.

Carnival Princess is Nesta Wade, nine, a pupil of St Bartholomew's Primary Academy. Her hobbies are ice skating and cooking. She said she would like to make ill people better and cheer up any people who are sad.

This year's Butterfly Princess is Lorena Martin, aged four, a pupil at Little Foxes who confessed to liking chocolate and ice-cream.

Two new categories were introduced this year, for boys with the title of Carnival Prince going to Tom Dubarry, ten, of Longleaze School who likes piano, swimming, cycling and playing hockey for Royal Wootton Bassett. Pageboy Samuel Parkin, aged seven, also of Longleaze, likes reading, maths, Beavers, lego, cycling and playing the tenor horn.

Every entrant was rewarded with warm applause and a commemorative certificate.

The MC Barbara Sealey thanked all who made the event so successful, including donors of raffle prizes, and Cloth of Gold who helped prepare the royal regalia.

The judges were the mayor and mayoress Ian and Judi Ferries, Mayor-Elect Mary Champion and Jade Dando (Miss Glamorous Wiltshire).

The carnival parade will take place on Saturday, May 21 and will assemble in Marlowe Way by 3.15pm before moving off at 4.30pm.