HORWICH Carnival continued today with the parade through the town centre. 

Hundreds lined Chorley New Road to watch the groups like Horwich Morris Miners, Hunters Cheerleaders and the Carnival Queens. 

Around 30 organisations took part in the procession which began in Ramsbottom Road. 

Emmerdale stars Michael Parr (Ross Barton) and Anthony Quinlan (Pete Barton) were driven along near the head of the procession. 

They exchanged banter with the crowd and threw sweets to many of the children. 

St Catherine's Care Home had an impressively decorated Beauty and the Beast themed float. 

Those marching with it were dressed as the Disney characters like Beauty, Cogsworth, Mrs Potts and Chip. 

Graham Smart, aged 61, said: “It’s been good, though it’s a pity the weather isn’t as good as last weekend.

“The Beauty and the Beast float was really good and my grandson liked the Stormtroopers.”

Harriet Massey, an 11-year-old from Horwich attended the parade with her mum, she said she’d been to the parade every year since she was born and enjoyed the ‘tradition’. 

The parade was well attended but many commented on how the parade has diminished in recent times. 

The annual carnival, organised by Andrea Allott and Diane Woodruff, is part funded by Horwich Town Council. 

This year money from the carnival is going towards Royal Bolton Hospital's neonatal unit.