THE biggest and best yet? This week's Teignmouth carnival looks set to be a record breaker.

For music fans it has been paradise. Virtually every day live music pumped out from the arena on the Den – rock, classical, soul, jazz and blues.

A week long free fest of music, with thousands packing in on Wednesday to lap up top Abba tribute group, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.

Tonight up-and-coming Newton Abbot rockers Rude Tiger will play after the procession and tomorrow sees a monster feast of gigs with around a dozen acts performing.

The procession promises to be even longer than last year's spectacular.

The carnival committee and volunteers have been working almost to the point of exhaustion.

Chairman Dave Matthews reckons they have been on the Den from 7am to around 1am and 2am each day.

'We are knackered already and almost out on our feet with so little sleep, but when it goes so well, it is all worthwhile,' he told the Post on Wednesday.

'It will cost us up to £70,000 to put on and a lot of the funding has come from the fair. We are also grateful to all our sponsors, and would urge people who enjoy the carnival to put at least a pound in the collecting boxes, because it will help us to keep the momentum going in the future.

'We are now the premier carnival on the south Devon circuit.'

The carnival was opened on Saturday by Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris, who also crowned the royalty.

The 'royal' float then went on to Kingsbridge carnival where it chalked up its fourth class win so far this year.

Other notable events during the week have been a skateboard fest on the prom, a martial arts display, cabaret, children's events, displays by the rescue services, including an RAF helicopter, a pier challenge, it's a knockout, a choir sing-off, and much, much more.

MORE PICTURES IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION