Eden garden has pride of place in Littlehampton Bonfire parade

The Garden of Eden, superbly recreated by Littlehampton Churches Together, complete with giant figures of Adam and Eve and the serpent writhing around, was judged best float.

The churches took the prize for the second year running, but it was a newcomer, Wick Village Traders’ Association, which won the best walking group category, with fabulous oriental costumes and even a panda accompanying their float, itself a third prize winner.

Bonfire society Richard Cooper was particularly pleased with the quality and quantity of floats in what was an impressive procession.

He said: “I was staggered by the standards – the effort that had gone into making the floats and costumes was amazing. There were some outstanding entries, including Littlehampton Churches Together, the 4th Littlehampton Scouts and Wick Village Traders.

“The detail in the Scouts’ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang float was incredible and the floats overall were an improvement on last year, which is what we were hoping for.”

The Scouts produced a three-part tableau featuring not only the famous flying car, but the sweet factory and the child catcher with his captives in a cage, too. It won the best youth entry award, and second place in the floats.

Second place in the walking groups went to the Churches Together band of flowers and beasts from that first garden, while Beach Bateria’s all-action samba players took third spot.

They may not have been among the prize winners in the Hallowe-en procession, but there were still fearsome characters aplenty, including the Wonder Girls’ zombies, a zombie wedding on South Downs Leisure’s float and scary scooter drivers in a fleet from the Arun Access Group.

Space was the final frontier for the Creat and Relax group’s float, and movie queens were the theme for the only ‘overseas’ entry, by Ventnor Carnival Association, while youngsters on the Bognorphenia float danced the night away and Littlehampton’s Scope charity shop contributed a colourful display on wheels. Ashington Festival’s Mr Men characters were a joy to behold, too.

The Edwin James Festival Choir coralled a large group of cowboys and Indians and Worthing Theatres promoted Cinderella with a huge blue pumpkin.

The carnival royals of Rustington and Littlehampton added a touch of glamour, and the exotic moves of the Silk Road Belly Dancers and traditional dance steps of Sompting Morris made an intriguing contrast.

Keeping everyone in step were Portsmouth City Band, Celebration Samba, the TS Implacable band, Arundel and Littlehampton Scout Band, Oatlands Park Pipe Band and Expedient Jazz Band.