AN annual North-East gala had a carnival queen with a difference this weekend - she was 85 years old.

Normally the honour of leading the procession through a village's streets is handed to a local schoolgirl.

But in Cotherstone, Teesdale, County Durham, pensioner Peggy Nixon performed the honours.

With a shortage of youngsters in the small village wishing to fulfil the duties, organisers were forced instead to turn to the local luncheon club.

Mrs Nixon's name was drawn out of a hat - and she ended up sporting one at the carnival as she headed the celebrations in an open-top car, along with her husband Bill, 87, and friend Rene Forster, also from the luncheon club.

"I must admit, I enjoyed it," said Mrs Nixon. "It was hard work though, all this waving and smiling. Lots of people were taking photographs and saying 'smile'.

"I feel quite sorry for the Queen," she joked.

"We had several open-top cars and we were out at the front with the brass band. I had a great day."

The procession started at the village's Fox and Hounds pub, with music played by the Rowan Pipe Band.

Members of the luncheon club enjoyed a spot of tea in the village chapel after the carnival.

Jenny Watson, one of the organisers of the event, said that Peggy was easily the oldest carnival queen in the festival's 22-year history.

"We usually choose a village youngster," she said, "but we often have trouble getting the younger ones to do it.

"We used to call them the flower girls, but it's gone back to being the carnival queen this year."