NEARLY £1,500 was raised through the street collection at this year’s Otley Carnival.

The money, which represented a big increase on last year’s total, will go towards proceeds that will be shared between the 2019 event’s beneficiaries - Marie Curie, Hug on a Tray and Springboard Wellbeing.

Westgate Primary School, meanwhile, has been announced as the winner of the Keith Wilkinson Memorial ‘people’s choice’ Trophy. The school’s colourful walking group parade entry, based on the theme of Tropical Westgate, proved a hit with the public.

The Carnival Committee also says that new Carnival Queen Niamh Emmett Casey has been enjoying the role since being crowned on the Carnival Field by Town Mayor Peter Jackson on Saturday, June 15.