A COLOURFUL carnival winded its way through Darlington today.

The return of the Community Carnival saw streets come alive with a vibrant mix of music, drama and dance.

This year, the carnival sports a ‘children’s books and authors’ theme and began in the market square at 9.45am with performances from dance schools.

The annual parade left the square at 11am and made its way to Stanhope Park, where crowds enjoyed live music, a range of stalls and activities.

Disney princesses mingled with visitors to the park, who also enjoyed children’s entertainment, sports sessions and craft activities.

The line-up of live music included Maddison Lyonette award winners Circus Villains, Los Capitanes and Purple Shark.

David French, chairman of Darlington Community Carnival’s voluntary organising committee, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing how much communities enjoy taking part and experiencing what we have on offer.”