Richard BatsonFrantic races and fancy dress fun have brightened the streets of Sheringham as it builds up to its carnival week climax.Richard Batson

Frantic races and fancy dress fun have brightened the streets of Sheringham as it builds up to its carnival week climax.

Organisers have switched the parade from its regular Wednesday night slot, to Saturday evening and linked it to a firework finale in a bid to boost crowds.

The midweek gap was plugged by the revival of town races, which were scrapped a decade ago because of flour bomb mess left on the streets.

Instead they were held on the main Station Road car park and saw teams speeding around a track dressed as TV characters on board home made go-karts, customised prams and a souped-up bathtub.

Competitors were pelted with water bombs, squirted with super-soakers and - in spite of a 'water only' warning from organisers - showered with bags of flour and handfuls of straw.

Race winners were seven-year-old Luke Rumsby and his dad John in their soapbox, with hairdressers Katie Woodrow and Katie Ward - who competed as Little Britain's Lou and Andy - bagging the 'best dressed' prize and nine-year-old Joe Templeman finishing first in the children's running race.

Carnival stalwart Martyn Jackson, who organised the races with a team of volunteers, said: 'This is the first time we have done this for many years and there was a great turnout, a huge amount of enthusiasm and we couldn't have asked for more.'

Earlier on Wednesday youngsters also donned costumes for a fancy dress competition.

A talent show saw Louise and Sarah Barron win the junior section singing Valerie, while Melanie Brown sung Second Time Around to become senior winner.

Carnival day tomorrow kicks off with a car boot at the common from 9am. Other highlights include a strongman competition at the Weybourne Road sports ground from 11am, sandcastle competition on the beach from 1pm, with the parade assembling on the common from 4pm for judging at 5pm and moving off towards the town centre at 6.30pm.

The firework display at Cookies car boot field is at 9.45pm, with live music from the Buster James Band.

See the full programme at www.sheringhamcarnival.co.uk