TAUNTON'S biggest fancy dress party of the year gets off to a flying start.

Already 280 tickets for the street parade, held in Taunton on Aug 4 have been sold, with many more expected to go.

The street party will include stop offs at various venues across Taunton, with all profits going to St Margaret's Somerset Hospice.

Benjamin Arnold, joint organiser for the event said: "It's great to see that things are going so well, obviously because it means a lot of money will be raised for the charity, but also because it should then turn out to be a really cracking event, the party of the year."

Hundreds of fancy dress costumes are being hired for the event, and some of the more unusual ones include a set of giant bananas, and characters from the TV comedy sketch, Little Britain.

Anyone wishing to buy or reserve a £5 ticket can do so by popping into the Party On shop on Taunton's High Street, or by calling 07834734835.