STEAM ENGINE ADDS FIRE TO RECORD-BREAKING BISHOPSTOKE CARNIVAL

5.41.37pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 11th Sep 2006

Bishopstoke's annual carnival broke all records at the weekend as the popular event attracted larger numbers of people than ever before.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne attended with Eastleigh Mayor Peter Wall and Mrs Wall and many other local dignitaries including Cllr Anne Winstanley who chairs the Bishopstoke parish council.

Mr Huhne said: "This was definitely the best ever Bishopstoke carnival, and it was great to see so many local families out in force and enjoying both the events and the weather".

Arena events in Glebe Meadow included k9-kos dog agility display, jive dancing, music from Cathedral jazz and a grand raffle draw by Mr Huhne.

Mr Huhne is pictured here with Cllr Winstanley and Malcolm Hudson, an enthusiast who keeps the old sawmill steam engine "Dorothy" at his home in Hedge End and is a popular draw to local fetes and carnivals.

Mr Huhne said that "Dorothy" was magnificent and in perfect running order even though she was made in 1919, and can be seen trundling to and from local events.

Mr Hudson said she does not have to undergo an MoT, but a boiler inspection every eighteen months. "The boiler inspection is a lot tougher than the MoT" said Mr Hudson.