A STREET parade was used by British Gas to say thanks to Barrow for putting up with the huge loads which crawled through the town’s streets 25 years ago to help build a new base for gas from Morecambe Bay.

The Mail, on Monday, August 23, in 1993, noted: “The huge loads moving from Barrow Docks to the Rampside gas terminal have always been treated as a bit of a carnival by Barrovians, so it was inevitable that eventually they would turn into the real thing.

“It all started when mayor Hazel Edwards challenged Jim Gardner, environmental planning officer at the terminal, to make some money for her mayor’s charity out of the load.

“The idea was to dress up yesterday’s load as a dinosaur and it soon caught on with the other firms involved in moving the equipment.

“The result was a carnival through the streets of Barrow, led by Ulverston Town Band and Ulverston Solid Brass.

“A rectangular chunk of gas terminal was thinly disguised with camouflage netting and dinosaur pictures.

"Barrow’s carnival band the Barracudas brought up the rear.

“Between were Steele’s hauliers, Ocean Fabrications, Instant Signs, Salthouse Motors and buses from Cumberland Motors."

Cranes and trucks were decorated as dinosaurs and the floats included the Flintstones.

British Gas staff were dressed up as cave people to collect money from spectators.

They also gave out 12,000 sweets, 2,500 balloons and 300 hats, pens and badges to the crowd.