CARNIVAL spirits were high in Chelmsford as a pub put on a day of festivities to raise vital funds for charity.
More than 300 people piled into the Ivory Peg, New London Road, and enjoyed games including hook a duck, hoopla and feed a frog on the bank holiday.
People ate candyfloss, cupcakes and popcorn while raising £686 for J's Hospice and CLIC Sargent on August 25.
J's Hospice cares for young adults with life-limiting conditions while CLIC Sargent cares for young people with cancer.
The pub regularly raises money for the two charities, and was desperate to come up with a fundraising ideafor them this year.
Bar manager Lucy McCarthy, 23, said: "It was a group decision to put on Carnival Day, which was great because it attracted a real mix of people.
"Everyone wants to be a child again, to play with balloons and eat lots of sweets and stuff.
"The face painting was so popular that even one of our regular customers, George, who is 80-years-old, had his face painted as a tiger.
"My favourite part of the day was seeing all the kids here enjoying themselves.
"And the feedback from all the visitors was so positive – everyone saying they wished it was carnival every day.
"The aim was to make around £300, and we were so pleased because we more than doubled that."
A silent auction also took place, during which a signed cricket bat went for £50.
The event took weeks to prepare and was manned by 20 staff throughout the day.
Lucy said: "A lot of our staff came in and gave up their spare time to help with the day, which is so lovely of them.
"We have already started thinking up things for next year, it won't be carnival but it will be just as good."
