OUT-GOING Newton Abbot carnival queen Sophie Rae handed over the royal reins to Emily Last at a special ceremony over the weekend.

Dignitaries from the town’s civic society attended the clock tower event on Saturday afternoon along with guests including town crier Nigel Kenneison.

Emily’s attendants – who will be joining her at various carnival processions – are Ellie Drinkwater, Imogen Geary, Erin Parker and Layla Grylls.

Carnival festivities kick off on Monday night with a quiz in The Richard Hopkins Wetherspoon pub from 5.30pm with children’s fun and games at the Recreational Trust on the same day from 6.30pm.

A duck race will be taking place from Steppes Meadow

at Bakers Park from 5.30pm on July 10 before a tractor pull at the clock tower an hour later.

Thursday’s events include a tea dance at Dancework Devon’s East Street base from 2pm and bingo at Forde Hall at 8pm.

Runners will be putting their best foot forward in a fun run at Decoy Park from 6pm.

Live music, bouncy castle, stalls and a whole host of activities will get Carnival Day underway at Courtenay Park from noon. A wheel barrow race will also be taking place in the park from 2pm.

Hordes of people are expected to line the streets in Newton Abbot town centre on Saturday evening as the carnival procession makes its way from the park to Highweek Way from 6.30pm.

A ‘carnival praise’ concert will be held in Courtenay Park from 2pm on Sunday.