Cromer Carnival got off to a successful start on Saturday, with blue skies and sunshine bringing out crowds in their hundreds for a day of attractions ranging from a dog show and a craft fair, to a bake-off competition and a car boot sale.

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

Carnival field visitors also had a chance to buy a newly-launched booklet marking the 50th anniversary of Cromer Voluntary Entertainments Organisation, which re-introduced the annual event in 1969.

Penned by carnival chairman Tony Shipp, who is marking his 35th year at the helm, the 80-page commemorative booklet charts the history of the carnival from its beginnings in the 1970s and features photographs brought along to two drop-in mornings held earlier this year.

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

Mr Shipp, who first became involved in the carnival as children's event organiser in 1971, said committee members and volunteers were looking forward to a week of fun for all the family.

He added: "It is a lot of hard work with all the setting up and paperwork, but seeing people turning up and enjoying themselves makes everything worthwhile."

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

Crowning day on Sunday (August 18), kicks off with a performance on the pier forecourt by father and son Britain's Got Talent stars Jack and Tim Goodacre.

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

TV star Bradley Walsh, who launched his career as a comedian in Cromer Pier Show, will be crowning Miss Cromer, Jessica Foster, her attendants and the carnival prince and princess at 12.30pm, with Mr Shipp also introducing more than 20 carnival queens from the last 50 years.

Other crowning day attractions on the carnival field include a children's fancy dress competition, and knobbly knees, bonny baby and glamorous grandmother competitions.

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

For more information, visit www.cromercarnival.co.uk

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

More: Everything you need to know about Cromer Carnival 2019

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")

%image(14599333, type="article-full", alt="Cromer Carnival chairman Tony Shipp (right) launching a booklet marking the 50th annivarsary of the annual event with Kate Royall, who helped with editing, and former Eastern Daily Press and North Norfolk News reporter and editor Richard Batson, who contributed a "newshound eye's view of carnival capers" to the commemorative book.Photo: KAREN BETHELL")