Bands tune up for Party in the Polegrove

Next Friday's curtain-raiser to Carnival Day is set to out-do the success of last year's event, which despite the counter-attraction of Rother's Panoramic jazz festival on the De La Warr Pavilion lawn drew a crowd of more than 3,000.

Carnival spokesman Graham Newsome said this week: "Last year, Bexhill Carnival had something of a dilemma.

"On the Friday night prior to Carnival Day itself, the Panoramic jazz concert was due to take place at the De La Warr Pavilion. As the Friday night is one of our main income streams to put Carnival on for the next year we were a little concerned to say the least.

"We had seen the Maximum Leisure roadshow at the Bexhill 100 and took a large gamble financially with the help of Old Town Preservation Society and booked them at short notice for the Friday night.

"The rest, they say, is history.

"Dave from Maximum Leisure and his team put on superb show for us and you turned up in your thousands to support us and enjoyed a truly special evening in the Polegrove.

"What do we do this year?

"Dave has promised us an even better show this year with seven bands booked - including our own Untouched, Carla Stevens who is currently Number Four in the dance charts, Lisa Andreas the younger De Marco sister from Eastenders, Boysterous, Ben Franco and Storm and the possibility of three others yet to be confirmed.

"We believe that you will be in for a superb night's partying.

"Nick and his funfair will be open to you all of course and it all starts at 6pm. Entrance will cost 2 for per adult, 1 per child of five to 15 and a family gets in for 4."