by Emma Grove

The first Miss Leysdown in more than 10 years has been crowned as part of this year’s summer carnival.
Leysdown-on-Sea Carnival 2009 will take place on Saturday, July 18, and a carnival court has been elected as part of this.
Nicole Harris, 19, has been crowned as the Leysdown Carnival Queen with Leysdown residents Courtney Taylor, 18, and Bianca Dennison , 19, her princesses.
The judging of the carnival court was held at Merlin’s Entertainment Complex on Saturday, May 30.
Nicole, from Queenborough, received £100 and her princesses were each given £25.
The girls will all be attending the carnival and heading the procession at 3pm in a Cinderella-style coach.
The carnival is being put on by Leysdown Traders’ Association and supported by Leysdown and Warden Bay parish councils.
There will be a carnival procession, fair, miniature steam railway, stalls, donkey rides and a firework display in the evening.
Peter Goodspeed, who is a member of the Leysdown Traders’ Association and on the organising team, said: “We had a very successful evening at the finals of Miss Leysdown.
“It was very exciting and a packed house in Merlin’s.
“We are holding the carnival because we want to mark the centenary year [of aviation] – it’s a great occasion for the Island.”
The committee is also looking for any marching
bands which would be interested in taking part in the procession.
For more information call 01795 510379.