Cromer carnival parade was a dream come true in more ways than one for senior attendant Victoria Craske as not only did she realise her ambition of riding on the royal float, her long-term partner Cameron Allen also arranged for the procession to be stopped mid-journey so he could jump aboard and propose.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer carnival senior attendant Victoria Craske with fiance Cameron Allen, who proposed during Wednesday's parade. Picture: Victoria CraskeCromer carnival senior attendant Victoria Craske with fiance Cameron Allen, who proposed during Wednesday's parade. Picture: Victoria Craske (Image: Victoria Craske)

'I was so shocked,' Miss Craske, 27, said. 'It was a complete surprise as I didn't even know Cameron was thinking about marriage and I certainly wasn't expecting him to propose for years.'

After coming up with the idea of popping the question during the parade, Mr Allen, who works as a warehouseman at Fakenham, spoke to carnival chairman Tony Shipp and town crier Jason Bell, who agreed to help out, also telling both his and his future bride's families of his plans.

'They were sworn to secrecy,' Miss Craske explained. 'Tony arranged for the band leading the parade to stop playing as we went along the seafront, then everyone stopped and Cameron climbed up the ladder onto the float and got down on one knee.'

After Miss Craske had accepted his proposal – and it was announced over a loud speaker – Mr Allen presented his royal family-fan bride-to-be with a Princess Diana-style sapphire and diamond ring, before rejoining the hundreds of spectators lining the pavements.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer carnival senior attendant Victoria Craske (right) shows off her Princess Diana-style sapphire and diamond engagement ring to carnival queen Phoebe Chambers and chairman Tony Shipp. Picture: Karen BethellCromer carnival senior attendant Victoria Craske (right) shows off her Princess Diana-style sapphire and diamond engagement ring to carnival queen Phoebe Chambers and chairman Tony Shipp. Picture: Karen Bethell (Image: Archant)

'All the crowd was cheering and everyone on the float was crying - we were all hugging each other and I spent the rest of the parade in tears,' Miss Craske said.

Mr Shipp, who arranged for the surprise proposal with the help of fellow carnival committee members, said the event was 'a first' for the carnival, which he has headed for 45 years.

'It was wonderful,' he added. 'The way it happened was just brilliant and the reaction of the crowd was amazing.'

Miss Craske, who runs her own mobile hairdressing business and creates and sells handcrafted homewares online, said she and her future husband had yet to set a date, but would not forget their engagement in a hurry.

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer carnival senior attendant Victoria Craske with fiance Cameron Allen, who proposed during Wednesday's parade. Picture: Victoria CraskeCromer carnival senior attendant Victoria Craske with fiance Cameron Allen, who proposed during Wednesday's parade. Picture: Victoria Craske (Image: Victoria Craske)

'It was like something from a movie, I don't think it has sunk in yet,' she said.