TWICE as many floats will take part in this weekend’s Harwich Guy Carnival, with Rotary clubs from across Essex set to join the event. 

The Harwich Guy Carnival, organised by the Harwich and Dovercourt Rotary Club, pokes fun at topical issues in a tradition known as 'guying' and is believed to have started in 1856 to coincide with celebrating Guy Fawkes.

The event, which takes place on Saturday (October 26) from 6.30pm to 9pm on the streets of Harwich and Dovercourt, is expected to have the “largest number of attendees for some years” due to an increased number of floats.

John Wade, who took over running the carnival about 10 years ago as part of Rotary, said: “It’s going well so far. We have 22 floats this year of all variety and shapes - twice as much as last year”

“The Harwich Drum Circle, Maldon carnival court, Burnham on Crouch carnival queens, and Clacton carnival court will also be attending.

“It gets people from Harwich and from further afield, we have helpers from Manningtree, Clacton and Colchester Rotary clubs to help as marshals, and it’s a good family evening out.”

To find out more visit  facebook.com/HarwichGuyCarnival/ including for times to borrow the 'Big Heads' from the old Factory Shop on the corner of the High Street and Kingsway.