Rustington Carnival on today (Saturday, June 18)

Taking place today (Saturday, June 18), the procession will begin in style, with 23 groups parading through the village.

The procession will be marching to the drum beats of the Littlehampton and Arundel District Scout band and a band of TS Implacable, the Littlehampton division of the Nautical Training Corps.

As well as the marching bands, there will be performances from students at the Rustington-based Lorna Benson School of Dance and a dazzling display from Bognor’s Southern Starlights Pom Pom troupe.

Organised by the Littlehampton District Lions’ Club, the parade will set off at 1pm from Holmes Lane and finish at the North Field recreation ground, off Woodlands Avenue, at roughly 2pm.

The field will then host the rest of the carnival day fête.

On offer will be a spectacular display of athletic prowess from Rustington area primary school pupils in the guise of an egg and spoon race and inter-school races.

Cole’s Funfair will also be providing tea cup rides and other activities specially designed for children, during the day.

The afternoon will also see a further display from the Lorna Benson School of Dance as well as a huge Zumbathon, in which everybody is encouraged to participate, together with a fun dog competition.

On the field there will be roughly 35 five stalls dotted around, selling refreshments and treats throughout the afternoon.

Austen Beard, from the Lions, is urging as many people as possible to attend the carnival day.

He said: “It’s a fun family occasion and it’s going to be raising money for vital charities in the area.”

Austen hopes to raise more than £3,000 that will be shared between Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice, the Luke Cory Trust and the Sophie Nugent appeal.

The carnival is part of the village’s festival week, which ends on Saturday, June 25.