THOUSANDS of people were out in the sunshine for one of the busiest summer weekends.In Stowmarket, cowboys, Wimbledon tennis stars and Ipswich Town's 1978 FA Cup winning heroes were among a host of sport-inspired floats to entertain the crowds at an annual carnival procession.

THOUSANDS of people were out in the sunshine for one of the busiest summer weekends.

In Stowmarket, cowboys, Wimbledon tennis stars and Ipswich Town's 1978 FA Cup winning heroes were among a host of sport-inspired floats to entertain the crowds at an annual carnival procession.

This year's procession was built around the theme of 40 years of sporting triumphs and disasters and brought various sporting legends back into the limelight including ski jumper Eddie the Eagle and tennis star Tim Henman.

Chilton Primary School won the best in parade category with its multi-sport themed trailer, while the Crown pub won the trade section with a dazzling rodeo and cowboy spectacle.

Town councillor Poppy Robinson was among a special panel of guests chosen to judge the competition.

She said: “It was a great success and the atmosphere in the town was terrific - everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.”

Meanwhile there were huge crowds on Hadleigh High Street yesterday for the annual street fair.

More than 60 stalls lined both sides of the street and the Market Place, offering ceramics, crafts, and other handmade items.

And for the more adventurous there was the chance to abseil for charity.

More than 900 people took part in the terrifying abseil off Ipswich Hospital's 150ft maternity block over the weekend.

On Saturday, 400 people made the leap of faith, raising an estimated £35,000. A further 500 people carried out the challenge yesterday.

Amazingly, not one registered participant backed out of the abseil, even though there were children as young as four and six and a handful of pensioners.