DARCEY Hemmings will take her place in the spotlight at Verdin Park when she is crowned as the 2014 Northwich Carnival Queen.

Darcey is due to be crowned at the community celebrations by Clr Dee Cooke, who was on the carnival committee for many years.

Clr Cooke and her husband, Clr Brian Cooke, are carnival stalwarts, having raised thousands of pounds for carnival charities over the years.

This year’s carnival takes place on Saturday, July 5, at Verdin Park, with the popular parade setting off from Old Warrington Road at 1pm.

The parade will travel along Venables Road and Chester Way to the one-way system before entering the park at about 1.45pm.

The crowning is due to take place at 3pm, and will be followed by a full programme of family entertainment in the main arena.

The line-up includes a display by Vale Royal Birds of Prey, a show by Chris Topper Puppets, the Wirral Scottish Pipe Band and Celtic Toes Irish dance group.

There will be performances from a number of local dance schools and Dancercise keep fit group.

Admission to the park is £2 for adults and £1 for children, and there is still time to enter the parade by contacting carnival committee secretary Barbara Turner by calling 76113.

The carnival fun continues on Sunday, July 6, at the park with a giant car boot sale and novelty dog show.

Car booters can set up from 7am, and the car boot opens an hour later.

The dog show starts at midday, and anyone who would like to enter their pet must register from 11am.

There will also be a fun fair all weekend at the bottom end of Verdin Park.

The grand draw takes place at 2pm on the Sunday, and the carnival will be raising money this year for The Samaritans and The Salvation Army.

“We would like people to come out to watch the parade and drop their pennies into our collecting buckets,” said Barbara.

“We are hoping that everyone will come along to support the carnival and help us to raise a lot of money.”