AS Thornbury Carnival approaches, organisers are paying tribute to the many contributors from the town and far and wide.

Performers and local schoolchildren and group members will march through the town in the annual parade on Saturday, July 5.

There will be a flyover by iconic Spitfire and Hurricane planes and there are 10 different bands on the line-up.

Much of the entertainment at the event is home grown, including bands and sports teams and there is a great deal of local business involvement, which is growing by the year.

Thornbury firm Exposure is responsible for much of the printing and banner-making, while the carnival’s main sponsor, Europa Group, is prominently located on Midland Way.

Central to any business involvement is the Chamber of Commerce, which has been an active supporter throughout the recent carnival series, while the Town Council provides an annual grant for the festival’s insurance.

Carnival organiser David Goldring said he wanted to debunk the myth that the carnival was for Thornbury alone, citing the many backers and entertainment providers from outside of the town.

South Gloucestershire supporters include Almondsbury Garden Centre, Mojo Active Wild Place and Horizon Nuclear.

The fun fair hails from Yate, the main contractor and supplier of stages and lighting, KJE Tech, is based in Severn Beach and Severnside First Aid Services hail from Chipping Sodbury.

Plenty of homegrown talent will be on show at the festival, with a stellar local entertainment lineup which includes the Thornbury Town Band, Dan Budd's Ukelele Jam, Street Envy, and the very well carnival-integrated Inspire Arts Trust.

Irish dancers and a zumba class will keep folk on their toes and the Arabella's Belly Dance Troupe are sure to entertain.

The town’s Panache Steel Band, due to fly out to the West Indies less than a week after the carnival, will be performing alongside popular band, The Honky Tonks. From just over the local horizon, the Celestine Dog Agility group will be presenting two demonstrations during the afternoon, as will the Acro-Gymnasts from Yate and the Blue Flames and Black PantherscCheerleaders from Bristol.

For more details visit www.thornburycarnival.co.uk or email organiser@thornburycarnival.co.uk