CROWDS gathered in the streets of Ulverston their hundreds for an annual event that was dubbed the “best in years”. 

The cobbled streets of Ulverston played host to thousands of people itching to get a glimpse of this year’s VE Day parade.

As the sun peeked through the clouds, spectators lined the streets for one of the busiest events of the year. 

This year’s event was renamed the Ulverston Hospice Carnival as all profits go towards St Mary’s Hospice and its provision of end-of-life care to residents across South Cumbria. 

The event offered a range of activities for all the family include a variety of stalls, fairground rides, delectable food and drink stalls, dance competitions and of course - the parade. 

With a VE Day theme, costumes, music and floats all reflected some of the most prominent images of the 1940s including a huge tank, the land girls and a comical sketch of French-inspired comedy, ‘Allo ‘Allo! 

Dick Wilson, of Ulverston, was delighted by the parade.

He said: “It was great - I think it was the best one we’ve had in years.”

Jill Raven, of Boogles and Bump, said: “I think it’s great because of the lovely atmosphere which there always is in Ulverston and it’s nice to be here as a shop.

“It’s great that events like this are still bringing people into the town.” 

Another Ulverston resident commented: “It’s great - there’s no other town in the country that can do it like we do.” 

Ulverston Mayor, Councillor Bharath S. Rajan, feels the event has an important sense of history for the community. 

Speaking before the event he said: “It’s nice. “Twenty years ago my daughter was carnival queen so I was on the balcony of the Coronation Hall but I think it’s different now.

“It shows that we’re still keeping up the town’s traditions but we’re trying to become more in tune with the age we live in and I think it’s all for the better and I’m excited to see what transpires here today.”

The day began at 11am as Ulverston Victoria High School band entertained crowds at Market Cross before dance competitions got underway at Ford Park at 11.30am.

The town's famous parade, which featured 104 floats, dance troupes and various musical bands, kicked off just before 1.30pm at the junction of Hart Street and Fountain Street, before making its way through King Street, Queen Street, Cavendish Street and past the Coronation Hall before making its way back to Ford Park. 

Mav Haddow, parade secretary, said: "It's been great and all the entries were absolutely brilliant. 

"The Brownies have sung their hearts out from start to finish. "People have said that this year it has been a proper carnival with lots of floats and people from the community doing what they want to do.

"It's been absolutely fab and couldn't have gone any better really." 

Bob Qazi, corporate and partnership development fundraiser for St Mary's Hospice, said: "It's just been fantastic.

"People have put so much effort in such a short time and it's great that companies such as Glaxo and other firms have put so much effort in. 

"We've had people getting their collection boxes full and bringing them back and exchanging them so it's really amazing. 

"This is just the start because we'll be doing this again next year and hopefully it'll be even bigger and better. 

"On behalf of the hospice I would like to thank everyone who has taken part or come to watch."