Junior carnival royalty are picked

In a tight competition, Jazmine Hobbs, 11, was crowned junior queen after receiving the most votes.

Jazmine moved to Bognor Regis five months ago but grew up in Littlehampton and still has family in the town.

Starring in a parade will not be new to Jazmine, who is part of the Wonder Girls pom pom troupe and the Scouts.

The year-six student at Laburnum Grove Junior School said: “I felt happy and quite excited. I’m looking forward to getting the dress. “The weird thing is I will be sitting and not moving my feet.”

Mum Zena, 41, said she was proud of her daughter.

She said: “I was very ectastic and over the moon. I’m proud she managed to get it, living in Bognor.

“It’s going to be difficult because I’m in the parade myself, but I’m looking forward to seeing her in her dress and seeing her take part in something for Littlehampton – it’s our home town.”

The carnival is this year celebrating its 40th anniversary and will take place on July 12.

To mark the occasion, carnival royalty from previous events will be taking part in the festivities.

The carnival committee also hopes to include Freda Hughes, president of the Littlehampton Carnival Association, in this year’s parade.

Alongside Jazmine will be two flower girls, Alison Jenkins and Abbie Travers, aged nine and ten respectively.

Alison, is a year-five pupil at Lyminster Primary School.

She said: “I’m excited and I’m doing it with the girl I wanted to do it with. I’m looking forward to the events and getting the dress is the thing I’m most looking forward to. I wanted to be part of it and part of what my dad, who is on the carnival committee, does.”

Mum Wendy Jenkins, 40, said: “I’m extremely excited and extremely proud.

“I told her I was going to the doctors, so it was a surprise when she found out she had been picked.”

Abbie Travers, a year-five pupil at Summerlea Primary School in Rustington, said: “I was surprised. But I’m excited to do the events with Alison. “All of the girls seem nice and I’m looking forward to taking part in all of the events and wearing the dresses.”

Freda added: “They’ve met the queen already and I think they will be fine – once we get them to our way of thinking!”