MORE than 200 children took part in the Goostrey Rose Festival on Saturday, with organisers hailing the 2017 event a resounding success.

With participants including 10 children from South Africa, visiting the village as part of the primary school’s twinning with Elizabethfontein School, the spectacle drew large crowds.

Following a procession made up of floats and walkers, 13-year-old Abigail Burgess was crowned Rose Queen.

Chair of the Rose Day committee Christina Burgess said: “We were so pleased to have shared our special day with the visitors from South Africa, whose dancing added so much to the spectacle.

“Rose Day is a traditional village event and yet again it was a great success but it would not have been possible without all the hard work put in by the committee and countless other volunteers.”

Abigail was crowned in front of last yaer’s queen Charlotte Harvey, with attendants Rebecca Main, Mike Mizunoue and Evie Thirlwell alongside her.

During the Rose Queen’s traditional visit to the war memorial at St Luke’s Church, prayers were said for Manchester bombing victim Nell Jones, as well as her friend Freya Lewis who was injured and is recovering in hospital.

The Rose Bud Queen was Molly Withe and her lady in waiting was Rosie Gyurkovits. The three attendants were Tiah Mills, Libby Hammond and Hannah Gray.

This year's Rose Day President Martin Leake has lived in Goostrey for more than 30 years and has been involved in many community activities.

Queens from 25 and 50 years ago were also part of the procession, led by a steam traction engine driven by Terry and Des Bostock.

The day was rounded off with a Ceilidh in the marquee on the school field, which was attended by around 160 revellers.

On Sunday a special service was held at St Luke's Church, where children were encouraged to attend wearing their Rose Day costumes.