IT may not have been as hot as Rio but thousands embraced the welcome change of weather for Monmouth carnival today.

Warm temperatures brought out the crowds as around 5,000 people flocked to the town to see it lit up by a colourful array of costumes and floats this afternoon.

The procession, which featured many local groups including the Severnside Silver Dragons Marching Band, two Le Mans racing cars provided by former racing driver Tim Matthews and the Forest of Dean Morris Dancers, began from Priory Street before making its way to Blestium Street car park.

The free event is part of the nine-day Monmouth Festival, which is celebrating its 30th year.

Vice-chairman of the festival committee, Lyndon Webb, said the idea behind the carnival is to make it a fun-filled community event for all the family.

He said dozens were enjoying the celebrations, which followed on from a Saturday night performance by AC/DC tribute act Hells Bells on the main stage, watched by around 3,500 people.

"There is a bit of a buzz about the place, it's going really well. There has been lots of smiling faces," Mr Webb said.

Each year the carnival, which is run by volunteers, relies on fundraising to take place.

Ian Jones, who is on the Monmouth Festival committee, said a "major contribution" was made by Michael McIntyre's two performances at the Savoy Theatre in June.

Mr Jones said his son Ciaran, 17, helps organise the event every year, after he was bitten by the bug taking collection buckets around aged just six.

"Last year he wouldn't come on holiday with us because he was so committed to the festival," Mr Jones said.

Once the parade was over, bands including the Jiveoholics and The Secret Police took to the stage to carry on the entertainment well into the evening.