COLCHESTER'S revived carnival set off around the town at 6pm today, Saturday.

The procession started in Goojerat Barracks next to Abbey Field before proceeding along Goojerat Road, turn left into Circular Road West, and then right, into Butt Road.

Across Southway, the procession then went into Head Street, right on to Colchester’s High Street, right again into Queen Street and then across St Botolph’s roundabout to Mersea Road.

Finally, the floats headed right into Napier Road, along Circular Road North, before finishing back in Goojerat Barracks.

Organisers saidw the survival of the newly-revived event depended on the support of the community and they were hoping people would come out in their thousands to see the first carnival parade through the town centre for more than a decade.

It was once a firm fixture in the town’s social calendar, and thanks to Destination Colchester, local businesses and a group of volunteers, it returned this weekend.

At its height in the mid-1980s, Colchester’s carnival attracted 40,000 spectators, 3,000 performers and 150 floats, but it ran into trouble in 1999 because of the cost of paying for barriers along the route.

Its organiser, the Town Centre Management Company, then went into liquidation in April 2000 and further plans to reinstate it in 2001 were halted by the foot-and-mouth outbreak and later, by road restrictions.

Before the parade, carnival organiser Ian Goldsworthy said: “We have been working diligently with Colchester Council, the Army, the police and everybody involved, to see if we can get this together, but now we need the support of the public.

“Wouldn’t it be great to see 40,000 people in the town again? The whole place is a bit down at the moment and I think this will be just the thing to give Colchester that feel-good factor.”

Mr Goldsworthy said organisations and businesses had been signing up in their droves to take part and he even expected some to jump on board at this late stage.

He added: “There has been a brilliant response. We’ve had two or three phoning each week and I half expect the number to top 50 by the time of the carnival itself.

Those taking part included Stanway Brownies, Colchester Roller Hockey Club, the special care baby unit at Colchester General Hospital and Mercury Theatre.

There were also majorette groups and bands. Event organiser Snake in the Grass, the people behind the Colchester Food Festival and Christmas Market, has helped with a safety plan and advising on carnival content, while Fingringhoe-based Zephyr Security has pledged marshals.

It is also being sponsored by supermarket chain Waitrose which is to open a Colchester branch this month.

Mr Goldsworthy added: “What we are doing is planting the seed of Colchester Carnival.

“We are hoping what we do this year will be built on in coming years and so we want the best start possible.”