THE parents of this year‘s Millom carnival queen have spoken of their pride as their daughter took centre stage on a day the town came together as one to celebrate its 150th birthday.

Jasmin Ryce, 13, from Millom, was crowned as this year’s carnival queen after being nominated by her father Stephen Ryce in January earlier this year.

The Millom School pupil had always dreamed of being carnival queen and was finally given the chance to lead the procession of floats on Saturday afternoon for the town‘s annual carnival celebration, which also commemorated Millom Newtown‘s 150th birthday.

Mr Ryce said: ”I was the proudest man alive, she has wanted to do this since she was a little girl and this year she finally got the chance to be carnival queen.

”This has always been such a big event for her and the whole of our family and it was great for my son who was also given the role of being her attendant on the float.”

All of Jasmin’s family came to watch the 13-year-old‘s moment in the spotlight, including Jasmin’s two-month-old niece Lilly Guthrie, who got her first taste of Millom’s carnival fever.

Jasmin‘s mother Katrina Ryce, said: “All of her friends at school have been asking about her dress but she’s managed to keep it a secret until the carnival.

”She absolutely loved the whole day and it‘s something that we’ll remember as a family for years to come.