DON'T be too surprised tomorrow night if driving through Midsomer Norton you encounter a whole tribe of red Indians, several Bob the Builders, a troupe of glamorous showgirls, a warren of dancing bunnies and Beelzebub himself.

Because tomorrow night, from 7.30pm, is Carnival Night, one of Norton Radstock's most eagerly-awaited winter highlights. And with more than 16 brightly decorated floats and a full supporting cast of majorettes, clowns and hot dog vendors, the town is expecting a turn-out of thousands.

Says Hazel Franklin, secretary of Midsomer Norton and District Carnival Association (MNDCA): "It's going to be wonderful. We're just praying for a fine, dry night. There's a real sense of competition among those clubs taking part and, of course, everybody wants to win."

A carnival has been held in Midsomer Norton since the late 1940s, although in 1960, the much-loved event was suspended.

However, in 1975, sufficient interest was shown to revive the town's carnival tradition and since then the event has continued to grow to its current size and status despite its exclusion from the official carnival circuit.