Donations at this year's Burnham-on-Sea carnival were up by £1,000 on last year thanks to generous contributors.

The annual glittering procession weaved its way through the resort last Monday evening despite a delay at the start amid safety concerns.

After several recent incidents in other parts of Somerset where carnival floats had hit overhead power lines, police asked for a rope to be strung across Love Lane.

Fortunately the procession continued and crowds lining the streets to watch this year's entries dug deep in their pockets for collection floats and tins.

Organisers say the exact total raised was £10,450 which will be go to various worthy causes.

A carnival spokesman said: "We're delighted that such a good sum has been raised this year and thank spectators for their support.

"Seeing the amount rise is particularly good considering the poor financial climate and the fact that the collection at Bridgwater Carnival was down £3,000 on the previous year."

The carnival circuit nicknamed the "Magnificent Seven" comes to a close tonight at Weston-super-Mare.

Organisers in the resort are hoping the crowds will also be as generous as Burnham because every year the cost of staging the carnival increases.

It usually costs around £13,000 to get the show on the road and to award prize money to the winning entries.

The carnival was also faced with a new bill this year by having to pay for two new licenses for the first time ever in the event's history.

These were to PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited), which pays the authors who wrote the songs used and PRS (Performing Rights Society), which pays the musicians of the songs used.

Brian Coombs, Weston carnival organiser said the PPL cost was around £1200 and the PRS at £860 plus VAT.

He hopes with the added costs more people will donate at Weston this year to allow the event to continue next year.

Mr Coombs said: "A lot of charities benefit from the donations so it would be nice if we could improve on the total.

"Seven or eight years ago we were raising more than £20,000, but the donations have dropped off.

"If everyone donated £1 towards the carnival it would raise £100,000 to invest in local causes rather than people buying coloured necklaces and balloons."

Among the charities to benefit from carnival donations are the Weston Group of Friends, Avalon Round Table, the RNLI and Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

Full Burnham-on-Sea Results:

Class 1 – Open Tableaux:

1 Gemini, To The Trees

2 Huckyduck CC, Alice's Dream

3 Wills CC, Venezia

4 Pentathlon CC, Ceremonial Barge of The Dragon Emperor

Class 3 – Feature Mounted (Open):

1 Gremlins CC, Joust

3 Masqueraders CC, Burlesque Cabaret

2 Ramblers CC, Ramses Revenge

4 Wick CC, Check Mate

Class 5 – Comic:

1 Just Georges CC, O'Raffertys Motor Car

2 Newmarket CC, Contraband Pirates

3 Cary Comedians CC, Life's A Drag

4 Luckington CC, Farm Yard Antics

Class 6 – Juvenile Feature/Tableaux:

1 Hillview JCC, Gee Wiz

2 Marina Sydenham JCC, Russian Blue

3 Toppers JCC, El Loco

4 Key Kids JCC, Indian Spirit

Class 7 – Individual Adult Masquerader:

1 Mike Daniells Burnham-On-Sea.com

2 Roger Muspratt-Hamilton

3 Rose Clarke

4 Jodie-Bea Mitchell

Class 8 – Individual Juvenile Masquerader:

1 Jamie Buckland

2 Sammie Callow

3 Becky Callow

4 Matthew Parker

Class 9 – Pairs:

1 Foxy Ladies CC

2 Smandy's CC

3 Brimgrovers CC

4 Stardelights CC Burnham-On-Sea.com

Class 10 – Groups of Masqueraders-Adult:

1 Xtreme CC, Sweet Sugar Candyman

2 Wilfs CC, Warbling this melody in H Two Ch

3 Natajacks, The Great Cherry Key Ambush

4 Crazy Crew CC, Guess Who's Back

Class 11 – Group of Masqueraders-Juvenile:

1 Avalon JCC

2 Crusaders Cubs

3 Rainbow JCC

Class 12 – Best Towing Vehicle:

1 Masqueraders

2 Griffens

3 Gremlins

4 Mendip Vale CC

4 Ramblers

Class 13 – Best Dressed Towing Vehicle Driver:

1 Vagabonds

2 Harlequin

3 Eclipse

4 Gorgons

Class 17 – Anything Goes:

1 Boogie Bass Bugs

2 Lucy Gunter

3 Next Generation

4 George Brimacombe

Class 18 – Best Decorated Generator:

1 Griffens CC

2 Gremlins

3 Masqueraders

4 Ramblers

Best Entry

Gemini, To The Trees

Best Local Entry

1 Hillview

2 Lucy Gunter

Best Costumes (local)

Hillview

Best Costumes (open)

Masqueraders

Best Feature

Gremlins

Best Tableaux

Gemini

Chairman's Choice

Gemini