ULVERSTON lit up with excitement as crowds witnessed the “biggest Lantern Festival in recent memory” parade through the town.

Thousands lined the streets to watch the procession of people carrying specially crafted lanterns through the town centre before gathering for the finale in Ford Park.

The annual event, in its 37th year, saw around 600 lanterns on display for the event, which this year took on an “Under the Sea” theme.

The luminous creations had all been crafted by the community in a series of workshops.

Chairman of the festival committee Chris Nelson toasted an “absolutely wonderful” night and said the procession was the biggest he had seen.

“It was absolutely fantastic and brilliant for the town, “ he said.

“So many people turned out to watch and everyone loved it.

“It was great to see such ingenuity and imagination in the lanterns that were created. People of all ages had joined in to make them and that really epitomises the spirit of the town and this event.

“We had a delay getting into Ford Park because the procession was so large. It must be the biggest in recent memory.”

Four different processions paraded through the town from different assembly points before merging at County Square and heading into Ford Park for the spectacular finale, where crowds were treated to an evening of live music and fireworks.

Among the hand-crafted creations on show in the procession was a giant whale lantern, created by artists Hannah Fox and Duncan Copley and inspired by the rare sei whale named Stinky that washed up on Greenodd sands 17 years ago. Due to works at Ford Park, last year’s festival was held in the town centre.

And Mr Nelson said that after a year away, the Lantern Festival had made a welcome return home this year.

He said: “The town centre was OK last year but Ford Park is its natural home and it was a brilliant return this year. It was an absolutely wonderful occasion.”

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