The sight of big, grey rain clouds did not dampen people's spirits at the Pentland Finchley Carnival on Saturday.

In fact, thousands of visitors wrapped up warm to flock to Victoria Park, on Ballards Lane, for the fun-filled main festival on Saturday.

Carnival queen Carly, who braved the cold with princesses Anna and Juliette to lead the procession through the busy streets of Finchley, said: 'It has been a really different day for me and I've had loads of fun.'

Those who weren't parading through the streets on brightly-decorated floats were screaming their hearts out on the Skymaster fun ride or clinging to the 50ft-high ferris wheel instead.

Others were being taught how to juggle, walk on stilts and swing hoops around their waists by the Screw Ball Circus Workshop.

The best float in the parade was judged to be North London Hospice's Millennium Appeal, which used silver and blue balloons as its main decoration.

A clown on stilts called Professor Crump, Charlie the Clown and the Delta Dog Display Team competed in the park for the attention of the crowd.

And there were plenty of other attractions including face painting, henna tattooing, refreshments, a variety of charity stalls ,, including the Neighbourhood Watch stall which was voted the best ,, and Dingle Fingle's Clowntown Crimewatch in the arena.

The day's events were rounded off by Flash Musicals ,, an Edgware-based young performing group.