Carnival week festivities in Wells started in fine seafaring style this weekend, with events including the return of the harbour's ever-popular raft race.

Eleven teams competed in home-made vessels fashioned from old pallets or oil drums – some lashed together more successfully than others – with the resulting watery entertainment being enjoyed by an enthusiastic crowd of holidaymakers and carnival-goers along the quay.

The rafts included Dr Who's Tardis, which at one point was being pursued by a floating Dalek, with the eventual winners of Saturday's event being the Wensum Ospreys Canoe Club from Fakenham.

The fun continued on Sunday with a fete day at the recreation field on Beach Road, which was given an 'emergency services and survival' theme, with appearances from fire and rescue officers, coastguards, police officers, lifeboat crews and first aiders.

The event also saw the crowning of Darci Boamah as this year's carnival queen, with Oliver Parsons becoming carnival king. Their attendants are Keeley Peacock, Chloe Scott, Amber Richardson, Reece Mathews and Liam Knowles.

Pat Weston, carnival chairman said: 'It has all started with a bang and we are all very pleased. On Saturday night we had 2,500 people on the Buttlands for Gary Winter and the Jonathan Wyatt Big Band and on Sunday we had lots of people out in the sun for our fete day on the football field.

'The reason it works so well is because the community in Wells works so hard together, and it is really good to know their hard work is paying off.'

The festivities in Wells will continue all week at venues throughout the town, building up to the main carnival parade at 3pm on Saturday, starting from the Buttlands

A full schedule of festival events can be found at www.wellscarnival.co.uk.