You’d be forgiven for thinking there was some kind of calamity that the world needed saving from in Old Basing on Saturday.

But there was nothing to fear as it was the Old Basing Carnival, with costumed heroes joining the parade, along with beloved cartoon characters.

The theme of this year’s parade was ‘comic and cartoon characters’ and saw favourites from page and screen leap onto the streets of Old Basing.

This year’s parade winners were a team of the Hanna-Barbera characters The Flintstones, as portrayed by Old Basing Village Nursery School.

Once the parade had moved through the area, the festival continued in the Recreation Ground, featuring performances from the Royal British Legion band, Basingstoke Tappers, the Military Wives Choir and more.

Canrival princess, Amelia May, 10, attendant Emmy King, five, prince, Owen Eastwood, nine and escort, Scott Connor, seven, were this year’s royal party, leading the parade from the front.

Chair of the Old Basing Carnival, Joe Croombs, said: “It was fantastic, and the performances were absolutely spectacular.

“Thank you to everybody who took part and helped on the day.”

Preparations are underway for the 50th anniversary of the carnival in 2020, in June next year.

To celebrate the carnival, part of next year’s parade will be the inclusion of princes, princesses and attendants over the past five decades, who are encouraged to get in touch with event organisers via oldbasingcarnival.com.