Diss is going carnival crazy!

DISS is preparing to go carnival crazy this weekend.

The south Norfolk town will be celebrating its first carnival for seven years on Saturday and Sunday with its biggest parade of floats for decades.

More than 30 entries have been received for the procession through the town at the revived carnival.

The annual carnival used to be the centrepiece of Diss's year but dwindling interest saw the number of floats down to just four when it petered out in 2001.

Last year the town council pledged to back plans for its return and a cross-community effort has seen those plans come to fruition.

The festivities begin with the annual Proms in the Park concert, organised by Diss Rotary Club on the evening of Saturday.

The following day starts with a display of Newfoundland water rescue dogs in the Mere at noon.

Hoxne Hundred Morris dance team performs in the Market Place after that before the procession wends its way from Diss town football ground in Brewers Green Lane, along Roydon Road, St Nicholas Street, Market Hill, Mere Street, Park Road and Denmark Street from about 1pm.

BBC Look East's Stewart White opens the carnival fun day back at the football ground at about 2.30pm after the return of the parade when there will be a children's fancy dress parade and dove release.

An afternoon of fun and displays will run throughout the afternoon with musical entertainment going on into the early evening.

Many local groups and businesses have booked stalls for the afternoon to ensure all tastes are catered for in a packed programme.

For the more energetic, there will be traditional children's races and a tug of war competition.

Admission to the football ground is £2 with under-16s free if accompanied by an adult. Carnival programmes are on sale throughout the town, priced £2 but allowing free entry on carnival day for one person.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Diss Christmas Lights Appeal will benefit from the profits.