Photo Gallery: Sheringham Carnival gets off to a exciting start with parachuting teddy bears and carnival queen crowning

Sheringham mayor Tricia Brooks crowning carnival queen Shannon Cramp, 21. Photo: Karen Bethell (Image: Archant)

A model boat show kicked off a packed programme, which included a putting competition, children's activities, circus skills workshops and a Newfoundland dog rescue reconstruction on the beach.

Other attractions on the Leas clifftop gardens ranged from a street dancing display by the specially-formed Red Barrows troupe from True Motion Dance, charity stalls, parachuting teddy bears and an aerobatic display by local pilot Nigel Willson in his Yak 52 Russian training aircraft.

Twenty-one-year-old carnival queen Shannon Cramp and her attendants Cheryl Copeland, 21, and Brianne Neale, 18, were crowned by town mayor Tricia Brooks, who also presented trophies to carnival prince and princess Thomas Gabriel, six, and Ruby Love, eight.

Carnival chairman Stuart McClean said it had been a fantastic day. He said: 'The weather was brilliant and everything went according to plan.

The Red Barrows dance troupe performing on the Leas for Sheringham carnival crowning day. Photo: Karen Bethell (Image: Archant)

'We are expecting sunshine for the rest of the week and the carnival programme is full with events every day.'

The main parade is on Wednesday and leaves at 6.30pm.

Also joining in the carnival fun this year are staff at the town's Tesco store, who have organised a string of events to raise funds for Diabetes UK.

The store management team will be inviting shoppers to pelt them with soggy sponges when they take turns in the stocks tomorrow (Monday), while, on Tuesday, local band the Soul Traders will be performing in the car park from 6pm.

Children's TV character Peppa Pig will be putting in an appearance on Wednesday, with Simon Rouse from the Norfolk Owl Charity bringing along some of his feathered friends between 10am and 6pm on Tuesday and Thursday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.