CARNIVAL fever hit Newport last night, as crowds gathered in the frosty evening air to cheer on a host of floats and costumed characters.

Pill Illuminated Carnival made its way through the town with a fantastic range of wonderfully imaginative entries.

Led by the Prince of Wales band, floats on show ranged from Newport Library's celebration of The Simpsons cartoon characters to Lliswerry Gym Club members transforming themselves into snowflakes, complete with Snow Queen.

Newport mayor Ron Morris, who with Newport AM Rosemary Butler officially started the parade from Pill Docks to Cardiff Road, was delighted with the turnout.

He told the Argus: "The effort that has gone into the floats is amazing, and it's nice to know that in Pill, community spirit is alive and kicking."

The 12 floats and crowd of walking entries made their way from the docks through the town via the Royal Gwent Hospital, before winding back down in to Pill and ending up at St Stephen's Church.

A carol service was held at the church before the carnival procession moved off. Jan Preece, chairman of the carnival committee, said the carnival - the second illuminated one the community has staged - was a wonderful success.

He said: "There was superb support from the community - and from other communities in Newport as well. The weather was appalling - but we had a great turnout and it was a wonderful start to Christmas."

A street collection carried out during Pill Illuminated Carnival raised £600 for the St David's Foundation, a nursing charity that provides hospice care in patients' homes.

*Sadly, the chilly weekend weather took its toll on one event - Pontypool's first buskers' festival.

A lone singer plied his trade in the town centre on Saturday, instead of the cavalcade of clowns, musicians, magicians, poets and other acts hoped for by Torfaen council.

But the brave entertainer received a warm reception to thaw the winter chill.

* Pictured: Shian Elise Cook on the Caroline Street and Black Horse pub float