A woman who was crowned Carnival Princess twelve years ago, got an early birthday present on Friday, when she was picked to be this year's Carnival Queen.

Kathleen Cullen, 20, nipped out of her own birthday party on Friday evening to take part in the contest to find this year's Carnival Queen and the judges chose her to be the ambassador for the young people of the town for the next year.

Mrs Cullen was delighted to get the accolade and was looking forward to taking her place on the float in Trowbridge Carnival on September 6.

She said: "After being Princess in 1991, I just thought I should try for the Carnival Queen this year."

Although the timing of the event could have been better, she had lots more to celebrate when she rejoined her friends later in the evening for her birthday party.

Husband Mark, and daughter Rhiannon, two, are proud of her achievements.

She said: "I work with the elderly as a care assistant, and I told the judges I really wanted to raise awareness about facilities for older people in Trowbridge."

During the competition at the Civic Hall judges also picked a Queen's Attendant, Carnival Princess, and Butterfly Queen from over 20 keen entrants.

Tabitha Pang, 16, will be Mrs Cullen's attendant.

She said: "The atmosphere on the night was really good and the other girls were great fun."

This year's Carnival Princess will be Naomi Havergal, and the Butterfly Queen will be Sophia Medway.

Chairman of the Town's Carnival Committee, Steve Nash, was delighted with how Friday went.

He said: "We had more people put their names forward to be the Carnival Queen this year than we have had for any of the four previous years."