THE future of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival is in safe hands - despite the procession being cancelled for the past two years.

The colourful cavalcade has been absent from the town's streets since November 2019 due to Covid.

But enthusiastic schoolchildren have been enjoying the town’s carnival tradition and back in November, 16 local schools took part in a Bridgwater Carnival education project and competition.

The youngsters deployed a variety of techniques to decorate large Venetian style carnival masks on the theme of ‘The Future’.

The masks were positioned around the town to create a trail and during the Sedgemoor Masquerade Week in early November, members of the public took part in a special competition to locate all 21 masks and

be entered into a prize draw.

The schools and nurseries who took part in the project and decorated the masks were Somerset Bridge Primary; Northgate Primary; St Mary’s Primary; Willowdown Primary; St John and St Francis Primary; Brent Knoll Primary; Pawlett Primary; Cannington Primary; Stogursey Primary; Otterhampton Primary; North Petherton Primary; Puriton Primary; Bridgwater College Academy Primary; Martock Primary; Little Crickets; and Haygrove Secondary School.

While the masks were on display around the town centre, a team of judges had the difficult job of choosing their favourite three.

It can now be revealed that Pawlett Primary School was the overall winner of the prestigious competition and receives £150 prize money.

Somerset Bridge Primary School was second and wins £100, and Willowdown Primary School picks up £50 for taking third spot.

Sarah Humphrey, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival’s entertainment and schools liaison officer, said: “Once again the children have designed some absolutely wonderful mask creations, and I am extremely grateful to all the participating schools and nurseries for continuing to support and engage with our carnival education programme.

“The children are the carnivalites of the future and they will be the ones who will hopefully maintain our carnival tradition for their children and their children’s children.

"We hope that their involvement in these types of projects will enthuse and inspire them to become involved in carnival in the future.”

The winner of the mask trail prize draw and who wins a £25 gift/book token is Monty Joseph from North Petherton