MORE than 5,000 people took part in carnival fun in Blackwood on Saturday.

Carnival princess Donna Weston, 16, from Abercarn, and seven attendants left St Margaret’s Church at 12pm with a procession of bikers, vintage cars, jazz musicians and drummers behind them.

The 400-strong group then made its way to the Civic Centre in Pontllanfraith, where a funfair, tortoises, owls and over 40 stalls were waiting.

Groups like Tredegar’s Sling Shot Street Band and Blackwood RFC also entertained town centre crowds and raised funds along the way.

Chantelle Rogers, 19, from Ebbw Vale, fronted Sling Shot’s second annual appearance in her first year as band leader.

She said: "It’s a great experience."

Blackwood RFC’s under 7s group also enjoyed their first time at the carnival, while Blackwood Musical Theatre Society also appeared.

Blackwood Town Council events committee chairman Andrew Farina-Childs said the event attracted more than 5,000 people.

The committee, which started the event in 2000t to mark the millennium, also wanted as many attractions as possible to be free of charge this year.

"It’s just gone from strength to strength - we appreciate all the hard work that’s done, and all the people who turn up." Mr Farina-Childs added.

Abergavenny's Hazel Hunt, whose son Private Richard Hunt died in Afghanistan in 2009, and daughter Fe, 18, also ran a bucket collection for the Richard Hunt Foundation set up in his name.

So far £70,000 has been raised to help nine bereaved families and three injured soldiers through events like Blackwood and Caerphilly Carnival, which raised £1800 alone.

"It keeps Richard’s memory alive," Mrs Hunt said. "But it also means other people get the help, or know where to get the help, they need."