THOUSANDS of people turned out to enjoy Wellington Street Fair on Sunday – and the event raised just over £3,000 towards the cost of staging Wellington Carnival later in the year.

The event raises funds for the town’s carnival later in the year and carnival secretary Louise Brierley said High Street and South Street were full of visitors from the start of the event until the end of the day.

She said: “We were overwhelmed with the number of people wanting photographs with the Paw Patrol characters and we are encouraged enough to think we should do a similar theme in future years.”

Chairman Dave Rylatt said he was astounded at the quality of all the local groups which provided free entertainment all day in both roads.

“Wellington certainly boasts considerable talent which was on display for all to see,” he added. “My favourite moment of the day was to hear Huw Weston announce outside the Green Dragon that ‘Elvis lives, is visiting Wellington for the second year and is getting changed in the toilets of the Green Dragon’.”

‘Elvis’ – Stuart Horne, from Crewkerne – was scheduled to sing for three-quarters of an hour but the large crowd that assembled gave him such a warm welcome he sang for over two hours.

Mr Rylatt added: “In previous years, South Street normally empties around 4pm but this year we struggled to lift the road closures in time due to the vast numbers of people enjoying the atmosphere and entertainment. It was also good to see the rejuvenated Green Dragon have so many customers all day.”

Mr Rylatt said feedback was 99% positive from local businesses and from the stallholders for a well planned and enjoyable event.

Organisers would like to give special thanks to all committee members and Terry Milton and Richard Fox for putting in such a long shift – work started at 4.30am and finished at 8pm – and the people of the Wellington area for turning out.