Carnival colour snaked through Cromer tonight as the resort painted on its biggest smile of the year to entertain townsfolk and trippers.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer Carnival parade 2014. Picture: ANTONY KELLYCromer Carnival parade 2014. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

It was a night when churchgoers became bloodthirsty pirates to man a timber-shivering ship - which sailed on to a hat-trick of float awards.

The summer show cast moved their stage to the back of a lorry.

And local scouts recreated the winter storm surge with a bubble wrap sea surge attacking a home-made pier.

Streets were lined with carnival crowds who watched a shorter-then-usual parade pass by - but just as vibrant in its spectacle and noise.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer Carnival parade 2014. Picture: ANTONY KELLYCromer Carnival parade 2014. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Sea Scouts pooled their resources to made a model pier, and plastic storm surge sea to recall the dark events of December. Instructor Jim Cox said the main materials were bubble wrap, scaffold boards, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts - who all dressed as things that might have washed up on the beaches.

Carnival children's weeks organisers Tony West and Libby Clohisey had a playful dig at chairman Tony Shipp with their towering camel with a dummy Tony on the top - reminding him of the year, 2000, when he took part in a carnival camel race, fell and broke his arm.

There number of floats, about 40, was down on last year's, which Mr Shipp felt was because of the cost of hiring and insuring lorries, but was compensated by a rise in walking fancy dress entries.

'But there has been good spirit and some great floats,' he added.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer Carnival parade 2014. A group of young super heroes.Picture: ANTONY KELLYCromer Carnival parade 2014. A group of young super heroes.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

FLOAT RESULTS

Articulated lorries: 1 Cromer Parish Church (pirate ship), 2 Intouch IT systems (pirate ship), 3 Drury's Skip Hire (Vikings)

Rigid Lorries: 1 Punch and Judy at the seaside (Cromer Hospital dialysis unit), 2 Seaside Special (sailor theme), 3 Voluntary Norfolk (cavemen)

Any vehicle: 1 Dunstable Arms (Noah's Ark), 2 Cromer Town Council (Christmas), 3 Sheringham Medical Practice (1950s diner)

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer Carnival parade 2014. Picture: ANTONY KELLYCromer Carnival parade 2014. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Decorated cars: 1 About With Friends (rock stars), 2 Halsey House (Poppies), 3 Jack's Fit Club (Spartans)

Fancy dress 13+: 1 John Bowns (Meerkat campervan), 2 Tony West (carnival camel), 3 1st Cromer Sea Scouts (sea surge)

Vintage vehicles: 1 Derek (Austin taxi), 2 Brian Chumbley (Austin Farima), 3 John Wright (Bond Bug)

Overall and Spirit of Carnival; Cromer Parish church

Best Entertainment: Voluntary Norfolk

To buy photos of tonight's event visit www.archantnorfolk.newsprints.co.uk or call 01603 772449